Differences between real Ceylon cinnamon and cassia

Ceylon cinnamon much more appreciated cassia, because it has more valuable properties and a delicate aroma. But often cassia is sold as cinnamon, since getting cinnamon is a very laborious and expensive process. How to distinguish cinnamon from cassia and get a really valuable and healthy spice?

We have prepared a comparison table for you. Please note that cassia contains a large amount of coumarin, so it is not recommended to add it to the cooking process.

It is not difficult to distinguish the appearance of the sticks, and to determine the authenticity of the cinnamon powder, drop a solution of iodine on it.

All details are in the following table.

difference	Ceylon (true) cinnamon	Cassia
Marking	Cinnamomum zeylanicum	Cinnamomum aromaticum
Color	Light brown	It has a red-brown color, a non-uniform shade, which in places changes from dark brown to gray.
Appearance of the wand	Made from separate layers of very thin bark, usually less than 1 mm, inserted one into the other.	It twists with difficulty, which is why it is most often sold in the form of bark scales. Rough texture and thickness of about 3 mm. At the break, graininess is visible.
Aroma and taste	Subtly spicy. This is the most subtle fragrance of the milestone species. It is better absorbed by the body than other types. Pleasant aroma and taste.	More tart taste due to the high content of tannins. Sweetish tart and sharp taste without the tenderness inherent in Ceylon cinnamon.
Coumarin content	Minor	Significant. Due to the negative effects of coumarin on the body, it is not recommended to use.
Preparation method	Young trees are used, the age of which does not exceed three years. From young 1-2-year-old sprouts, the outer bark is scraped off. The inner bark is removed and wrapped in rolls, the length of which is about 1 m. For shorter rolls: the outer layer consists of pieces larger than 30-40 cm, the inner layer consists of smaller pieces.	Trees over 7 years of age are used. The upper part of the bark is removed. The lower bark is cut into strips of 15 cm and a width of 2 cm. After drying, cassia takes a concave shape. The bark is thicker and coarser than Ceylon cinnamon.
Color change when exposed to powder with iodine solution	Does not change	Changes to dark blue

In appearance, it is not difficult to distinguish a Ceylon cinnamon stick from a cassia stick.

Watch the following video for the difference between cinnamon and cassia.