Home›Dishes›Main Ingredient›CinnamonIngredientCinnamonSpices, Herbs and SeasoningsCinnamonReference and ClassificationVerifiedCinnamon is a spice made from the dried inner bark of trees in the genus Cinnamomum, most prized in its true form, Cinnamomum verum, native to Sri Lanka and the Malabar coast of South India. Cinnamon was among the most valuable commodities of the ancient long-distance spice trade, reaching ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome by routes that traders deliberately obscured to protect their monopoly and markup, giving rise to fanciful ancient accounts of its origin. Its high value and remote true source made cinnamon, alongside pepper and other spices, a driver of the medieval and early modern spice trade that connected South Asia to Europe and, eventually, motivated the European voyages of exploration that opened direct sea routes to the spice-producing regions of Asia. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/FactsCinnamonConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesTake a Related QuizComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsEarliest Documented Use, From (Year)Well-attestedfrom 2000 BCE 1Sourced to the subject's own accountAncient authors (Herodotus, Aristotle and others) claimed cinnamon came from Arabia, gathered by giant "cinnamon birds" from nests in an unknown land; Pliny the Elder recorded this as a traders' fiction invented to obscure the spice's real Southeast Asian source and justify a higher price. Captured here as a documented legend, not fact, per the food DataBrief's own precedent for named origin myths (Shennong, Kaldi).Earliest Documented Use, To (Year)Well-attestedto 2000 BCE 1Sourced to the subject's own accountThe source gives one point estimate (as early as 2000 BC), not a range, matching the existing start-year value.Origin RegionWell-attestedSourced to the subject's own accountSri Lanka and the Malabar coast of South India 1CinnamonFilter Results18 entriesDish FamilyAllDesserts and Sweet Puddings (1)East Asian Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (1)European Breads and Pastries (4)European Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (1)European Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)Festive and Ceremonial Dishes (1)Middle Eastern and North African Rice and Grain Dishes (3)North American Breads and Pastries (1)North American Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)Southeast Asian Breads and Pastries (1)Southeast Asian Soups (1)Southeast Asian Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (2)CuisineAllAmerican Cuisine (2)Chinese Cuisine (1)Dutch Cuisine (3)German Cuisine (1)Greek Cuisine (1)Indian Cuisine (1)Indonesian Cuisine (2)Israeli Cuisine (1)Lebanese Cuisine (1)Malaysian Cuisine (1)Middle Eastern Cuisine (1)Persian Cuisine (1)Peruvian Cuisine (1)Thai Cuisine (1)Era (Origin Period)All1501 (1)1600 (1)1800 (1)1810 (1)1925 (1)1951 (1)1954 (1)TraditionAllBread Baking (3)Christmas Feast Traditions (1)Passover and Jewish Holiday Foods (1)Ramadan and Eid Feasting Traditions (1)Street Food Culture (2)Format/TypeAllDesserts and Sweet Puddings (1)East Asian Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (1)European Breads and Pastries (4)European Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (1)European Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)Festive and Ceremonial Dishes (1)Middle Eastern and North African Rice and Grain Dishes (3)North American Breads and Pastries (1)North American Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)Southeast Asian Breads and Pastries (1)Southeast Asian Soups (1)Southeast Asian Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (2)CourseAllDessert (4)Snack or Street Food (1)Soup (1)Dietary SuitabilityAllContains Dairy or Egg (3)Contains Meat or Poultry (2)Origin RegionAllChina (1)Denmark (1)Germany (2)Greece (1)Indonesia (2)Iran (1)Lebanon (1)Malaysia (1)Netherlands (4)North Carolina (1)Peru (1)Saudi Arabia (1)Sweden (1)Thailand (1)United States (1)Yemen (1)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 18Bak kut tehCinnamonBananas FosterCinnamonCharosetCinnamonCinnamon RollCinnamonGiouvetsiCinnamonGulaiCinnamonHoney bunCinnamonHotteokCinnamonKabsaCinnamonKruidnotenCinnamonMassaman CurryCinnamonMeghliCinnamonPepernootCinnamonPfeffernüsseCinnamonRoti gambangCinnamonSholezardCinnamonStroopwafelCinnamonSuspiro de limeñaCinnamonConnectionsExpresses TraditionSpice Trade Traditions, Food Traditions Well-attested ConnectedCinnamon was among the most valuable commodities of the ancient and medieval long-distance spice trade.Source Cinnamon (Wikipedia)tier 3Used ByBak kut teh, Dishes Well-attested Source Bak kut teh (Wikipedia)Bananas Foster, Dishes Well-attested Source Bananas Foster (Wikipedia)Charoset, Dishes Well-attested Source Charoset (Wikipedia)Cinnamon Roll, Dishes Well-attested Source Cinnamon roll - WikipediaCroatian Cuisine, Cuisines Well-attested Source Croatian Cuisine (Wikipedia)Giouvetsi, Dishes Well-attested Source Giouvetsi (Wikipedia)Gulai, Dishes Well-attested Source Gulai (Wikipedia)Honey bun, Dishes Well-attested Source Wikipedia, Honey bunHotteok, Dishes Well-attested Source Hotteok (Wikipedia)Kabsa, Dishes Well-attested Source Kabsa (Wikipedia)Kruidnoten, Dishes Well-attested Source Kruidnoten (Wikipedia)Macanese Cuisine, Cuisines Well-attested Source Macanese Cuisine (Wikipedia)Massaman Curry, Dishes Well-attested Source Massaman Curry (Wikipedia)tier 3Meghli, Dishes Well-attested Source Meghli (Wikipedia)Mulled Wine, Drinks Well-attested Pepernoot, Dishes Well-attested Source Pepernoot (Wikipedia)Pfeffernüsse, Dishes Well-attested Source Pfeffernusse (Wikipedia)Roti gambang, Dishes Well-attested Source Roti gambang (Wikipedia)Sholezard, Dishes Well-attested Source Sholezard (Wikipedia)Sri Lankan Cuisine, Cuisines Well-attested Source Larousse Gastronomiquetier 1Stroopwafel, Dishes Well-attested Source Stroopwafel (Wikipedia)Suspiro de limeña, Dishes Well-attested Source Suspiro de limena (Wikipedia)In the Other AtlasesOriginated InIndiaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.Source Cinnamon (Wikipedia)tier 3Malabar CoastAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.Source Cinnamon (Wikipedia)tier 3Sri LankaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.Source Cinnamon (Wikipedia)tier 3Sources1. Cinnamon (Wikipedia)tier 3WikipediaHistory sectionIt was imported to Egypt as early as 2000 BC, but those who reported that it had come from China had confused it with Cinnamomum cassia.Expresses Tradition: Spice Trade TraditionsView the SourceWikidata: CinnamonWikidata Q28165, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the SourceLarousse Gastronomiquetier 1Hamlyn, 2009Used By: Sri Lankan Cuisine, entry: CinnamonCinnamon roll - WikipediaUsed By: Cinnamon Roll, Infobox main_ingredient field: Flour, cinnamon, sugar, and butter (or any other solid fat)View the SourceWikipedia, Honey bunUsed By: Honey bun, Infobox main_ingredient field: Honey, yeast, cinnamonView the SourcePfeffernusse (Wikipedia)Used By: Pfeffernüsse, Infobox main_ingredient field: cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, black pepper, mace, anise, sugar, butter, eggs, flourView the SourceBananas Foster (Wikipedia)Used By: Bananas Foster, Infobox main_ingredient field: Bananas, vanilla ice cream, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, dark rum, banana liqueurView the SourceCharoset (Wikipedia)Used By: Charoset, Infobox main_ingredient field: Apples, pears, raisins, figs, orange juice, red wine, pine nuts and cinnamonView the SourceSholezard (Wikipedia)Used By: Sholezard, Infobox main_ingredient field: Rice, saffron, sugar, rose water and cinnamon powderView the SourcePepernoot (Wikipedia)Used By: Pepernoot, Infobox main_ingredient field: Flour, Sugar, Aniseed, Cinnamon, ClovesView the SourceMeghli (Wikipedia)Used By: Meghli, Infobox main_ingredient field: Rice flour, sugar, anise, caraway, cinnamon, coconut, almonds, pistachios, pine nuts, walnutsView the SourceHotteok (Wikipedia)Used By: Hotteok, Infobox main_ingredient field: Dough: wheat flour, water, milk, sugar, yeast; Filling: brown sugar, honey, peanuts, cinnamonView the SourceGiouvetsi (Wikipedia)Used By: Giouvetsi, Infobox main_ingredient field: Meat (chicken, lamb or beef), pasta, tomato sauce (with cinnamon or bay leaves)View the SourceKruidnoten (Wikipedia)Used By: Kruidnoten, Infobox main_ingredient field: Flour, Brown sugar, Butter, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves, Cardamom, NutmegView the SourceSuspiro de limena (Wikipedia)Used By: Suspiro de limeña, Infobox main_ingredient field: manjar blanco (milk, sugar, egg yolks, vanilla), meringue (egg whites, Oporto, cinnamon)View the SourceMassaman Curry (Wikipedia)tier 3WikipediaUsed By: Massaman Curry, Infobox food/dish main_ingredient fieldView the SourceKabsa (Wikipedia)Used By: Kabsa, Infobox food/dish main_ingredient fieldView the SourceStroopwafel (Wikipedia)Used By: Stroopwafel, Infobox food/dish main_ingredient fieldView the SourceGulai (Wikipedia)Used By: Gulai, Infobox food/dish main_ingredient fieldView the SourceBak kut teh (Wikipedia)Used By: Bak kut teh, Infobox food/dish main_ingredient fieldView the SourceCroatian Cuisine (Wikipedia)Used By: Croatian Cuisine, Wikipedia article textQuote, Used By: Croatian Cuisine, Wikipedia article textCoastal cuisines use olive oil, herbs and spices such as rosemary, sage, bay leaf, oregano, marjoram, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and lemon and orange rind.View the SourceMacanese Cuisine (Wikipedia)Used By: Macanese Cuisine, Wikipedia article textQuote, Used By: Macanese Cuisine, Wikipedia article textTypically, Macanese food is seasoned with various spices including turmeric, coconut milk, and cinnamon, and dried cod (bacalhau), giving special aromas and tastes.View the SourceRoti gambang (Wikipedia)Used By: Roti gambang, Lead sectionQuote, Used By: Roti gambang, Lead sectionwith sesame seeds, flavoured with cinnamon and palm sugarView the SourceTake a Related QuizIngredient Origins: Myth, Trade and Deep TimeIncludes a question about Cinnamon.Comments (0)No comments yet. 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