The shrub scientifically known as Cinnamomum zeylanicum, of the Laurácea family, cassia cinnamon comes from Burma, China and India, but verum is native to Sri Lanka (Ceylon), a small country located in Asia from South.
For over 2500 years, the Chinese have known about this incredible tree.
For its development, it requires approximately 1,300 mm of rainwater per year and a very hot climate . Its leaves have an oval appearance and are long, with a size that reaches 7-18 centimeters in length. The flowers, which bloom in small clusters, are green in color and reveal a characteristic aroma. Its fruit is purple and measures only 1 centimeter, thus being able to produce only one seed.
Cinnamon is one of the best-known ingredients in the world, as it is used in the gastronomy of all countries, especially in Brazil, where it is essential to use it in certain desserts.
In the past, the use of cinnamon was not the same, where its use is entirely culinary nowadays, but in ancient times, studies indicate that cinnamon was used to ensure a longer shelf life of meats.
The transport of meat could save a few weeks when it was put in contact with cinnamon. So cinnamon was a spice in high demand and its price was as expensive as silver or gold.
Some studies suggest that the use of cinnamon as a seasoning is linked to the fact that the flavor it promoted in meats is unique and pleasant, making them use their natural form in other types of foods.
The origin of cinnamon comes exclusively from trees of the Cinnamomum genus very common in Sri Lanka, mainly the Cinnamomum zeylanicum variety.
The origin of the name of this tree and this plant is Arabic, where the source amomin means fragrant plant. In Europe, cinnamon was called canella, meaning "pipe", given the shape cinnamon takes when removed from trees.
Portugal will bring cinnamon to Europe
Cinnamon is one of the main spices used in the large maritime export trade that Portugal will carry out between Asia and Europe. You should know that Portugal will discover the majority of the maritime routes that we know today.
At a time when cinnamon was only traded in the South Asian basin, it was so valuable that it approached the price of gold, when ships returning from Asia docked in South Africa to restock. the price of cinnamon was traded like gold under guard.
By the year 1500, the seas were dominated by the Arabs, Indians and Chinese, but the Portuguese power studied ways to go that far with their ships, and with ships armed with cannons and high sailing speed , the story has become different. And Portugal will bring Europe into a new dimension. A small country that is the largest national sailing country in Europe. And today, the Tap Portugal pilots will continue the tradition of Portuguese navigators.
It was in 1505 that Lourenço de Almeida arrived in Colombo, carried to its coast by contrary winds.
In the 17th century, the Dutch expelled the Portuguese from the largest cinnamon-producing island, Ceylon.
When the Dutch learned of cinnamon production along the coast of India, they bribed and threatened the local king with destruction if they sold the cinnamon to anyone other than themselves.
The Dutch, in addition to being a navigating people, were very good traders. And today, the majority of imports into Europe come from Rotterdam in Holland.
In 1795, England confiscated Ceylon from the French, who acquired it from victory over the Netherlands during the revolutionary wars.
However, by 1833 the fall of the cinnamon monopoly had begun when other countries discovered that the spice could be easily grown in areas such as Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar and Guyana. Cinnamon is now also grown in South America, the West Indies and other tropical climates.
You should know that the Indian Ocean Islands were a war between France and England. Maurice becomes French then becomes English again, Reunion the same.
- Who first discovered cinnamon and imported it to Europe?
Lourenço de Almeida, son of the military viceroy Dão Francisco de Almeida, a notable explorer, landed in the port of Colombo with his crew and explored its lands, bringing with him to Europe many spices, one of the main of which was the acclaimed cinnamon.
- Who brought cinnamon to Brazil?
The Portuguese will import cinnamon shoots to Brazil.
At that time, the cinnamon trade was already dominated by Portugal and Europe in general, and no longer in the shadow of the Asians. Although cinnamon was brought from Sri Lanka, where the Cinnamomum tree was very common and appreciated, it was found that in Brazilian territory there were also countless species.
Cinnamon production in the world?
Currently, both Brazil and Madagascar are cinnamon producing and exporting countries, but they are not the main ones. In Brazil we prefer to produce soy, corn and coffee.
In 2014, became the world's leading cinnamon producer with 43% of global cinnamon production with approximately 90 tonnes of cinnamon per year.
Behind Indonesia is China, whose production is more focused on the Cassia cinnamon type, or also called Cinnamon-Cassia or Cinnamon-de-Chine. The provinces that produce the most canela-cassia are Canton, Guanxi, Yunnan and Fujian.
In Brazil, cinnamon production occurs with a higher incidence in the South, particularly in Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraná, especially in the Atlantic Forest, rising to São Paulo.
As competition is strong and the price is relatively cheap, Brazil imports more cinnamon than it produces, and Cinnamomum trees are used for other purposes, such as construction and reforestation, where its seeds are heavily consumed by birds.
- Curiosities about cinnamon
Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of cinnamomum trees, which have more than 400 species. In addition to cinnamon, the tree produces excellent quality wood, used in civil construction in general, as well as in shipbuilding.
In addition to wood and cinnamon itself, the cinnamon tree also produces seeds, which are consumed and distributed by birds, in addition to flowers pollinated by many insects, where butterflies and marimbondos are the main ones.
The seed of the cinnamon tree is not edible, nor does it taste like cinnamon, as many people think. The cinnamon itself is extracted from the inside of the bark, that is, the trunk of the cinnamon tree also has no cinnamon flavor.
