Cassia cinnamon oil is used popularly for many purposes in our daily life, from cooking, and cosmetics to medicine… In this article, we will find out about the features, production process, types, and the uses of this useful essential oil, as well as the guides to buying/importing quality cassia cinnamon oil from Vietnam.
Contents
Overview of Cinnamon
Cassia cinnamon oil, like other essential oil, is the oil extracted from its tree’s parts. Made from the peels and inner bark of cinnamon tree species, cinnamon is one of the oldest and the most popular spices in the world. It has been used since Ancient Egyptian times and, afterward, became a medicine in Ayurvedic as well as a staple food in Traditional Chinese.
Commonly, there are many varieties of cinnamon, but in general, it can be broken into 4 types with different features and economic value: Ceylon cinnamon or “true cinnamon”; Chinese Cinnamon; Vietnamese Cinnamon and Indonesian Cinnamon
| Ceylon cinnamon | Cassia Cinnamon | Saigon Cinnamon | Padang Cinnamon | |
| Country where it originates |
Sri Lanka |
China | Vietnam | Indonesia |
| Taste | Slightly sweet | Spicy but bitter | Spicy and sweet | Spicy |
| Color |
Light to medium reddish brown |
Dark reddish-brown | Dark reddish-brown | Dark reddish-brown |
| Special features | Most expensive; Lowest coumarin content |
Cheapest. high coumarin. very strong taste |
Cheap to moderate price, strong aroma, spicy and high coumarin |
Cheap, high coumarin, strong aroma |
*Coumarin: Coumarins are naturally occurring benzopyrone derivatives and a type of secondary metabolites, and is an important component to consider in Cassia cinnamon oil quality.
But we can also divide cinnamon into only 2 main groups: Cassia cinnamon vs Ceylon cinnamon
- Ceylon cinnamon or “true cinnamon”, which is mostly grown in Sri Lanka and is famous for its premium quality. Characterized by a subtle and floral scent, and extremely delicate flavor, that’s why Ceylon cinnamon is much more expensive than normal cinnamon.
- While Ceylon cinnamon has a very beautiful tan-brown color, we can easily recognize Cassia cinnamon by its darker brown or reddish color. Looking closer, you can see that Cassia has thicker layers, though the smell is not as strong and subtle as Ceylon’s, it has quite a special flavor: spicy-sweet, with an enticing aftertaste and a warm aroma. Compared to Ceylon, it’s easier to grow, more popular, and is often used for commerce.
Cassia cinnamon vs Ceylon cinnamon
When it comes to Cassia, many people may think of Chinese cinnamon, but in fact, Vietnamese Cinnamon (Saigon cinnamon), Indonesia cinnamon, and Cassia cinnamon (Chinese cinnamon), though have significant differences, all belong to the Cassia variety. In other words, you can refer Cassia to as Chinese cinnamon, but Cassia is not just Chinese cinnamon only, it also includes other types as above.
And in this article, we will understand Cassia cinnamon oil as the oil of Cassia cinnamon in general, not just Chinese cinnamon.
What is Cassia cinnamon oil?
The natural oil from leaves, barks, flowers, and seeds…, after mostly being steam distilled will condense and turn into essential oil. As the classification above, there are also two main types of essential oil, including Cassia cinnamon oil and Ceylon cinnamon oil. If Ceylon and Cassia cinnamon oil are made from the leaves and barks, they then will be classified as cinnamon leaf oil (or cinnamon oil) and cinnamon bark oil.
Cassia cinnamon oil vs Ceylon cinnamon oil
For the essential oil that is made from Ceylon, it is typically called “cinnamon oil”, and if it is derived from Cassia, we call it Cassia cinnamon oil. In other words: Ceylon ~ Cinnamon oil; Cassia ~ Cassia oil/Cassia cinnamon oil
Ceylon and Cassia cinnamon oil
Although both are extracted from cinnamon, there are still many distinguishable features between Ceylon and Cassia cinnamon oil, mostly caused by their chemical structures, fragrance, colors, and the uses of each type of oil
- Cassia cinnamon oil
Cassia cinnamon oil has the characteristic odor and taste of cassia cinnamon. Compared to Ceylon, its bark is thicker and darker, that’s why it comes with more pungent and less sweet flavors. However, Cassia cinnamon oil from barks is considered to be sweeter than cinnamon oil.
Cassia cinnamon oil
In general, Cassia cinnamon oil has a strong, warm aroma, along with a dark-brown color, free-flowing liquid, and a spicy taste. Based on the method of distilling, cassia cinnamon oil’s color may be yellow to yellow-brown clear oily liquid as well.
Because cinnamic aldehyde and other terpenoids can be found in abundance in Cassia cinnamon oil, it is used mostly as the ingredients in beverages, oral care products, and medicine.
- Ceylon cinnamon oil
Cinnamon oil has a quite similar aroma to Cassia cinnamon oil, but the active components are different. Unlike Cassia cinnamon oil has a mild pine fragrance due to tiny levels of Alpha and Beta Pinene molecules. It also includes the substances that create unique aromas, such as lemon-like scent (limonene), menthol-like (camphor0 and minty, cooling taste (1,8 – cineole)… which can not be found in Cassia cinnamon oil.
Ceylon cinnamon oil
This oil, hence, has an earthy and subtle aroma which is used in the perfumery, aromatherapy, pharmaceutical… Like Cassia cinnamon oil, it is also used to increase the taste of food also.
| Ceylon cinnamon oil | Cassia cinnamon oil | |
| Other names | Cinnamon oil | Cassia oil, Chinese cinnamon oil |
| Component | Cinnamaldehyde, Cinnamyl Acetate, Eugenol, and Eugenol Acetate. | Cinnamaldehyde, cis-Cinnamaldehyde, beta-Caryophyllene, Coumarin, Ylangene |
| Feature | Medium-consistency brownish-yellow or dark-colored liquid. | Dark-brown color, free-flowing liquid, and a spicy taste |
| Aroma | Have a warm and spicy aroma | Have a strong/intense, warm aroma |
| Uses |
– Cosmetic: Cleansing, Astringent, Stimulant, Antioxidant. – Odorous: Aphrodisiac, Stimulant, Anti-depressant, Expectorant, Warming, Energizing, Metabolism-Boosting. – Medicinal: Anti-parasitic, Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-viral, Immune-Boosting…. |
Used mostly as the ingredients in beverages, oral care products, and medicine |
| Price | Expensive | Cheap |
| Country of origin | Sri Lanka, Madagascar | Chinese, Vietnam, Indonesia |
Leaf vs Bark oil (Cassia cinnamon oil)
In many circumstances, Cinnamon Leaf Oil and Cinnamon Bark Oil can be used interchangeably. The most significant differences are in price and scent. The Bark Oil is more expensive because of the more complicated distilling process, but it’s clear that it smells better than the Cassia cinnamon oil extracted from leaves.
Leaf vs Bark oil (Cassia cinnamon oil)
Cinnamon has a unique flavor and scent. Its distinctive aroma is created by a chemical called cinnamaldehyde. Cassia cinnamon oil made from the bark is a better option if you’re looking for a sweeter, and spicier fragrance. It has a stronger, more pungent cinnamon fragrance than the Cassia cinnamon oil made from the leaf since it contains more cinnamaldehyde. On the other hand, Cassia cinnamon leaf oil contains a higher amount of eugenol, it has a milder scent and is cheaper while not irritating to the user’s skin as Cassia cinnamon oil is distilled from the bark.
Besides, Cassia cinnamon oil extracted from the bark is often darker in color, ranging from a clear yellow to reddish-brown, while Cassia leaf oil is often brownish-yellow in color.
| Bark cassia cinnamon oil | Leaf cassia cinnamon oil | |
| Made from | Bark | Leaf |
| Aroma | Strong, robust, and perfume-like aroma as Cassia | Mild scent, spice and musky aroma |
| Color | Clear yellow to deep reddish-brown | Lighter in color, often brownish-yellow |
| Price | More expensive | Cheaper than Cassia cinnamon oil made from bark |
The process of producing Cassia cinnamon oil
After 4-5 years of being planted and matured, cinnamon trees will be harvested and go through a delicate process of peeling off and chipping the outer layers by skilled workers. These layers are then dried and curled into the cinnamon stick, smashed or broken into little pieces. Similarly, the leaves are removed and dried under the sun (so it needs less labor compared to cassia cinnamon bark). Broken bark and leaves will be derived by a distilling process either with steam or carbon dioxide, finally, condensed into Cassia cinnamon oil.
- Step 1: Harvest cinnamon barks and leaves
When a Cassia Tree has been planted for 5 years old, it will be cut down and peeled off its outer bark or removed the leaves, often in Spring and Autumn.
Harvest cinnamon barks and leaves
- Step 2: Dry and smash barks/ leaves into small pieces.
- Step 3: To extract Cassia cinnamon oil, distill those broken barks/leaves with steam or carbon dioxide.
Dry and distill broken barks/leaves into Cassia cinnamon oil
Above is the process of distilling barks and leaves cinnamon into Cassia cinnamon oil
Benefits of Cassia cinnamon oil
Cassia cinnamon oil is a flexible, all-natural product with a wide range of applications. The following are some of the most common applications of it
Benefits of Cassia cinnamon oil
Boosts the immune system
Aid in the appropriate functioning of the entire body, as well as the prevention of seasonal risks. Cassia cinnamon oil helps to fight viral infections and protects against colds, coughs, and other seasonal ailments.
Fights germs
Proven to have antibacterial, and antiviral properties, Cassia cinnamon oil can help clean your house naturally
Treats Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a normal reaction to toxins in the digestive system that need to be removed. Cassia cinnamon oil, fortunately, is an anti-diarrhea substance that may bind intestines and end diarrhea bouts.
Improves circulation
Cassia cinnamon oil improves blood circulation throughout the body, ensuring that you obtain the right quantity of minerals and oxygen to thrive. Cassia cinnamon oil improves blood circulation, gives the body a warm sensation, relieves pain, decreases disease-causing inflammation, and encourages urine, allowing the body to expel impurities.
On the other hand, by making circulation better, which reduces the chance of stroke and heart attack, cassia cinnamon oil can help prevent these two life-threatening conditions.
Relieves Menstrual Symptoms
Cassia cinnamon oil helps in the opening of congested menstrual pathways, which soothes period pains and maintains your cycle regularly. Cassia cinnamon oil also treats PMS cramps and menstruation symptoms including headaches, tiredness, muscular pains, moodiness, and bloating in a natural way.
Natural Bug Repellant
The results of the studies indicate that Cassia cinnamon oil is an efficient mosquito repellent that is both natural and chemical-free
Uplifts mood
Cassia cinnamon oil can keep your mind at ease, and peaceful, and then induce warm feelings in both body and mind. In short, it can help you develop bravery and self-esteem.
Where to buy Cassia cinnamon oil?
As said above, Cassia cinnamon is grown mainly in 3 countries, including China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. But for Cassia cinnamon oil, China and Vietnam are top exporters while Indonesia just produces very little. That’s the reason if you want to buy Cassia cinnamon oil in large quantities or at a reasonable price, especially for B2B company that is looking for Cassia cinnamon oil as the input ingredients or the traders, you should buy from Vietnam or China.
So what are the differences between these two countries? Though all are the top world exporters of Cassia cinnamon, the differences in Cassia cinnamon features produced in Vietnam and China may lead to very big differences in the quality and the price of Cassia cinnamon oil.
- Chinese Cassia cinnamon oil: China is known for having one of the fastest-growing exports of Cassia cinnamon in the world. In comparison to other nations, however, Chinese cinnamon is not valued for its quality, oil content, or flavor. Because its cinnamon often has a strong and bitter taste, it is disliked in many nations and is mostly used in domestic manufacturing. So Chinese Cassia cinnamon oil has lower quality naturally than Vietnam. However, when it comes to Cassia cinnamon oil, China is considered to have more large factories and quick, modern facilities than any other country.
So if you want to find a supplier of Cassia cinnamon oil with cheap price, abundance, and available at any time, any order number, and do not need to have so good and typical flavors as Vietnamese Cassia cinnamon oil, a Chinese supplier is really the best one to work with.
Chinese Cassia cinnamon oil
- Vietnamese Cassia cinnamon oil: Vietnam is the largest exporter of cinnamon in the world. It is well known for Cassia cinnamon oil extracted from Saigon Cassia cinnamon, with the taste is stronger, more aromatic, and flavorful than the ones grown in China. Vietnamese Cassia cinnamon oil, as its Vietnamese cinnamon aroma, is characterized by yellow or dark-brown in color, the flavor sweet, woody, and a little spicy. The main ingredient of its Cassia cinnamon oil is aldehyde cinnamic which is about 70-90% of the total. Therefore, one of the strong points of Vietnamese Cassia cinnamon oil compared to Chinese Cassia cinnamon oil is its unique smell, which is often recognized to have a really good flavor. And that’s easy to understand why Cassia cinnamon oil produced in Vietnam is more expensive than in China.
On the other hand, while Vietnam has performed really good results in exporting raw cinnamon, its Cassia cinnamon oil production is more humble. There are fewer suppliers as well as factories manufacturing cassia cinnamon oil in Vietnam, and they’re often at a small scale with less flexible facilities compared to China. Recently, this condition has been improved better with more reliable and quality suppliers, but you may need to put more effort into finding a suitable supplier here.
Guides to import Cassia cinnamon oil from Vietnam
Do you want to import Cassia cinnamon oil from Vietnam? Below are some important things you should keep in mind!
Guides to import Cassia cinnamon oil from Vietnam
Requirements for registration, legal entity, and licensing permits
To engage in import and export activities in Vietnam, a company does not need to hold an import or export license separately.
Cassia cinnamon oil is not on the list of banned products in Vietnam, and in practice, it is the product that the Vietnam government encourages exporting and introduces many incentive policies.
Custom procedures
All goods that want to be imported or exported in Vietnam have to pass the Vietnam customs clearance regulations, which will check the important aspects of goods such as quality, specifications, and quantity… In particular, among these, Vietnam Cassia cinnamon oil needs to undergo some more inspection testing, including documents describing detailed uses of Cassia cinnamon oil, and standard quality in the medical and cosmetic industry, especially in terms of health issues… or expiration dates in/on the packaging of that Cassia cinnamon oil.
You can search for more information about Vietnam custom standards and read Law No. 54/2014/QH13.
Customs documents
- Bill of lading;
- Import goods declaration form;
- Import permit (for restricted goods);
- Certificate of origin;
- Cargo release order;
- Commercial invoice;
- Customs import declaration form;
- Inspection report;
- Packing list;
- Delivery Order (for goods imported through seaports);
- Technical standard/health certificate; and
- Terminal handling receipts.
- Some popular quality control of Cassia cinnamon oil in Vietnam: ISO 22000: 2005, HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) System…
Import-export duty
Tax will depend on our importing country, but let to say, Vietnam is an attractive partner because it is one of the most open economies in the world, with about 17 FTAs and a relationship with more than 150 countries in the world.
Below is the import and export tariff of Cassia cinnamon oil between Vietnam and some countries that you should note:
- 0%: ACFTA (The ASEAN–China Free Trade Area), ATIGA (ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement), AJCEP (ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership), VJEPA (Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement), AKFTA (ASEAN-KOREA FTA), AANZFTA (ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA), AIFTA (ASEAN-India Free Trade Area), VKFTA (Vietnam-Korea Free Trade Agreement), VN-EAEU FTA, CPTPP (Mexico); CPTPP (Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam); AHKFTA (ASEAN – HONGKONG FTA)…
- 2.5%: EVFTA (EU-Viet Nam FTA); UKVFTA (Vietnam – UK FTA)
- 5%: VCFTA (Vietnam – Chile FTA)
To get a free list of reliable suppliers of Cassia cinnamon oil in Vietnam as well as a free consult about importing – exporting from Vietnam, please contact us.
K-Agriculture, with more than 25-year experience and has exported to nearly 40 countries over the world, we are proud to be one of the best Vietnamese agricultural product suppliers in exporting agricultural products (rice, spices, and coffee…). We commit to supplying quality Vietnamese Cassia cinnamon oil at a very reasonable price. Being a giant in trading cinnamon products internationally in Vietnam – the biggest broken cinnamon, split cinnamon and cinnamon stick exporter since 1996, K-agriculture is proud to bring buyers broken cinnamon with uniform quality standards and affordable prices.
Email: info@k-agriculture.com
Website: https://k-agriculture.com/
Whatsapp: +84855555837 (Ms. Kris)
