the Courageous Caterpillar: Did you know?

Cinnamon. I love it! The taste, the smell, the color. I never realized where cinnamon came from however. We sprinkle it out of a shaker and when we run out, all we have to do is go buy more from the local grocery store. Easy peasy!

Did you know?

Cinnamon is the dried inner bark of a tree belonging to the cinnamomum family. Cinnamon obtained from the cinnamomum zeylanicum tree indigenous to Sri Lanka is generally believed to be of the highest grade.

Whereas in the wild cinnamon trees can grow as high as 20 metres, those used for harvesting the spice are pruned down when they are two years old so that they can produce large quantities of finer bark. Harvesting of cinnamon is held twice-yearly after the trees are three years old, soon after each rainy season.

Nowadays cinnamon is produced in Southeast Asia and many tropical countries from the cinnamon tree itself and the cassia tree which is related to it. However, cassia is inferior to zeylanicum or true cinnamon as its color is softer and its flavor sweeter. The price of zeylacicum is higher than cassia cinnamon.

Health Benefits? Of cinnamon? YES!

Cinnamon has been used in folk medicine since the Middle Age to cure sore throats, flu and coughs. It has also been very popular in Chinese medicine and aryurvedic medecine. Here are the most common health benefits of cinnamon:
1. For treating malfunctions of the digestive system: indigestion, stomach cramps, nausea, spasms, flatulence, diarrhea and anorexia.
2. For treating rheumatism and other inflammations.
3. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, and anti-clotting agent.
4. For treating vaginal infections.
5. For treating stomach ulcers.

The earth provides natural ways of healing for us. Amazing!

Picture this! From here...