Organic Cinnamon Sticks Large Glass - 52g - Steenbergs details and description

Steenbergs organic cinnamon quills (or sticks) come from small family farms in Sri Lanka and has a complex and fragrant taste, with a citrus overtone and rich buff colour.  Steenbergs' cinnamon are graded as "Export Fine Quills, C5 (or C-00000)", being 10cm long and c. 10mm in diameter.  Steenbergs organic cinnamon sticks have a hint of citrus and lack of bite make it one of our favourite spices. Use Steenbergs organic cinnamon sticks for flavouring curries, stewed fruits or in mulled wine or hot chocolate.  At Steenbergs, we source our organic cinnamon quills from small-scale farmers in Sri Lanka.

As one of the world's oldest spices, even being used by the Pharoahs, cinnamon comes from tropical, evergreen trees related to bay plants; in fact, cinnamon leaves are used throughout Southern Indian and Sri Lankan cuisine much like the British use bay leaves, but with a more clove-like flavour profile. Cinnamon trees grow to 8 - 17m tall (25 - 55ft) with a trunk diameter of 30-60cm (12-24 inches). The cinnamon leaves start a reddy colour, before turning light green then through to a darker, glossy green colouration. Cinnamon flowers are surprisingly small, pale yellow blossoms.

For processing cinnamon, the first stage is to train the tree by cutting the tree down to a stump 15cm (6 inch) above the ground. From this stump, up to 6 shoots are encouraged to grow for up to 2 years before harvesting. Cinnamon spice is prepared by skilled cinnamon peelers, who harvest shoots when they are 1.5m long (5ft) and 3cm in diameter (1 inch). Taking the cut shoot, the cinnamon peeler removes the outer corky bark, then rubs the stem to remove the paper-thin layer of cinnamon under-bark, which is then cut from the cinnamon shoot. This moist and citrus-smelling quill is rolled tight before being taken to dry in the warm shade. The result is a tightly rolled quilling of wafer-thin tan coloured bark, which can then be cut into a range of sizes for the retail customer. Shavings and trimmings from the cinnamon cutting and peeling process are dried and used to make the powder. This is the process used in India and Sri Lanka; for the lower quality, coarser cinnamon quills and powder that is often found on retailers' shelves, the source is usually from semi-wild cinnamon trees in the Seychelles. For more information on cinnamon, check out  Wikipedia or there's a good set of pictures at the BBC website on the cinnamon process. 

Organic cinnamon quills have a complex and fragrant citrus flavour that is full of exotic sweetness. Cinnamon's perfumed aroma is unique but has hints of clove, nutmeg and sandalwood. Cinnamon is great in savoury foods - just pop a few quills in to a lamb casserole or use in curry recipes - or use in drinks liked mulled wine or a real Indian chai tea. For further inspiration, go to Steenbergs Recipes and enter cinnamon for recipe ideas or try the BBC Website.

Steenbergs organic cinnamon quills is a core part of the Steenbergs retail range of over 400 organic spices, peppers, herbs and flavoured sugars. To check your local Steenbergs stockist please click here, or you can ring us on 01765 640 088, or email us at enquiries@steenbergs.co.uk.

Steenbergs sources, packs and dispatches at the Steenbergs ecofriendly spice factory or godown in North Yorkshire.

Spice - season - savour - sustainably with Steenbergs.