Cinnamon
Also called cassia, canela
Cinnamon adds sweetness to desserts and depth to savory stews, tagines, and rice dishes.
Flavor profile
Aroma: sweet, woody, warm
Good to know
Origin: Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia
Forms: stick, ground
Storage: Sticks keep about 2 years in a sealed jar; ground cinnamon fades within a year.
How to use cinnamon
Simmer a stick
Drop a stick into braises or rice, allowing it to infuse slowly, then remove it before serving.
Bloom lightly
A pinch of ground cinnamon in hot oil for 10 seconds adds warmth, avoiding a dessert-like taste.
What goes with cinnamon
- Nutmeg. Nutmeg and cinnamon both provide a warm, comforting aroma.
- Sugar. Cinnamon's warm spice contrasts with sugar's sweetness.
- Apple. Cinnamon amplifies apple's innate sweetness, a timeless comforting duo.
- Honey. Cinnamon's cinnamaldehyde shares aroma compounds with honey's floral notes.
- Oats. Cinnamon provides a warm, spicy contrast to oats' earthiness.
- Pumpkin. Cinnamon's warmth accentuates pumpkin's natural sweetness.
- Banana. Cinnamon's warm spice complements banana's sweet, estery aroma.
- Pear. Cinnamon's sweet spice complements pear's mild, floral sweetness.
- Sweet Potato. Cinnamon's warmth complements sweet potato's earthy sweetness.
- Vanilla. Cinnamon and vanilla both read as warm and sweet, and together make a rounded dessert base.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using too much in savory food, which overwhelms other spices.
- Leaving a stick in the dish, where it keeps getting stronger.
Ideas for tonight
- Add a stick to a pot of rice.
- Pinch into a beef or lamb stew.
- Dust over roasted sweet potato with salt.
Cinnamon: questions
What does cinnamon taste like?
Cinnamon adds sweetness to desserts and depth to savory stews, tagines, and rice dishes. Its strongest notes are warm, sweet, with an aroma that is sweet, woody, warm.
What goes well with cinnamon?
Cinnamon pairs best with nutmeg, sugar, apple, honey, oats. Nutmeg and cinnamon both provide a warm, comforting aroma.
How do you use cinnamon in cooking?
Simmer a stick: drop a stick into braises or rice, allowing it to infuse slowly, then remove it before serving.
How should you store cinnamon?
Sticks keep about 2 years in a sealed jar; ground cinnamon fades within a year.
What is the most common mistake with cinnamon?
Using too much in savory food, which overwhelms other spices.
