Kerala True Cinnamon (Karuvapatta) — not cassia
What most of the world calls “cinnamon” in supermarket jars is actually cassia (Cinnamomum cassia) — a cheaper, harsher Chinese/Indonesian variety that is NOT the same as true cinnamon. Our Kerala cinnamon is true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum, also called Ceylon cinnamon) — more delicate, more complex, with layered floral-sweet notes that connoisseurs prize.
True cinnamon vs cassia — how to tell
| Feature | True Cinnamon (ours) | Cassia (supermarket) |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | Thin, multi-layered quills | Thick, single-layer curl |
| Colour | Light tan-brown | Dark reddish-brown |
| Texture | Soft, crumbly, easy to break | Hard, brittle, needs force |
| Taste | Delicate, sweet, floral | Strong, spicy-hot, sharper |
| Coumarin content | Very low (safe daily use) | High (can stress liver at high doses) |
Why true cinnamon matters for health
Cassia contains coumarin, a compound that can stress the liver with regular high intake. True cinnamon has negligible coumarin — making it safe for daily use in supplements, teas, and routine cooking. For therapeutic cinnamon use, true cinnamon is strongly preferred.
Uses
Masala chai: ½-inch piece per 2 cups chai.
Biryani: 1-inch piece per 1kg rice, in oil during tempering.
Cinnamon tea: 1 small quill + hot water, steep 5 minutes.
Garam masala: Essential ingredient — dry-roast and grind.
Baking: Ground true cinnamon gives European pastries their authentic cinnamon-roll aroma.
Mulled wine / warm cider: 2 quills per litre.
Storage
Whole quills: 2 years airtight. Ground: 4 months peak aroma. Buy whole, grind fresh as needed.
FAQ
Is cassia bad for me? Not in occasional culinary amounts. Daily consumption of high doses is linked to liver concerns — true cinnamon avoids that issue.
How do I use whole quills? Break into pieces for curries; use whole for mulled drinks; grind fresh for baking.
Is cinnamon good for blood sugar? Studies show modest glycaemic benefit; true cinnamon is preferred for daily use because of the coumarin issue.
Why is your cinnamon lighter in colour? That’s how true cinnamon looks. Dark reddish-brown “cinnamon” is actually cassia.
Prateek K. –
Urmila Arora –
Sanjit Das –
KISHAN GOYAL GOYAL –
SANTOSH KUMAR SHAW –
Meera Menon –
Saranya Bhanu –
Vidya Sagar –
Anitee Meshak –
Sekar Kannan –
Ravi Aligeri –
Ankita Sharma –
JOLLY FRANCIS –
Aditya B. –
Swarup Kumar Chilukuri –
Ramakrishna Ghantasala –
Received as broken pieces