Cinnamon is a famous spice that has been used for thousands of years in cuisine and traditional medicine. Cinnamon sticks are versatile and can be used for purposes other than flavoring dishes. We will give you advice and ideas on how to use cinnamon sticks in cooking, health, and home cures in this blog. We’ll also go through how to properly store cinnamon sticks so they stay fresh and last a long time. So, if you’re curious about the various uses of cinnamon sticks, keep reading to learn about the benefits of this useful spice!
Contents
What are cinnamon sticks?
Before learning how to use cinnamon sticks in the proper ways, let’s find out what cinnamon sticks are.
The cinnamon spice is obtained from the inner layer of the bark of the cinnamon tree, which is a bushy evergreen tree originating in eastern and southern Asia. After harvesting the cinnamon bark, it is dried and processed for sale either in stick form or ground into powder, as you may already be familiar with.
Cinnamon sticks
There are two kinds of cinnamon sticks: Cassia cinnamon sticks and Ceylon cinnamon sticks. They are quickly perplexed if we cannot fully comprehend them. Cassia cinnamon sticks are less expensive than Ceylon cinnamon. Although they share some characteristics, Cassia and Ceylon cinnamon are two different kinds with distinct appearances and chemical properties.
The following table compares Cassia cinnamon sticks from India to Ceylon cinnamon sticks:
Cassia cinnamon sticks vs Ceylon cinnamon sticks
Health benefits of cinnamon sticks
Health benefits of cinnamon are widely recognized in traditional as well as modern medical techniques. Below are how to use cinnamon sticks to enhance our health.
To begin, cinnamon has antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiparasitic properties that can help enhance our immune system. It can also be used to treat a sore throat.
Second, cinnamon may be beneficial to a variety of our organs. It can safeguard our hearts by encouraging normal cholesterol levels. It has the potential to protect our brain against neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s. It can also protect our liver, aid with digestion, and support bone health.
Finally, cinnamon can enhance overall health by regulating blood pressure and sugar levels, reducing inflammation, and assisting our bodies in maintaining a healthy weight
How to use cinnamon sticks in improving health
How to use cinnamon sticks in cooking
Cinnamon sticks can be used to add more taste to a range of foods. Below are some interesting ways that you can use your cinnamon sticks to make your food more flavourful.
Add to hot chocolate
In the winter, make some hot chocolate with marshmallows and milk. Stir with your cinnamon stick. After a few minutes in the hot chocolate, the stick will begin to crumble, imparting a delightful cinnamon flavor to your drink.
Crush for apple pie
Fresh cinnamon sticks may help spice up a traditional apple pie. Place three entire cinnamon sticks in a coffee processor and pulse until finely crushed. Take out the cinnamon according to the directions on the package and combine it with the remaining ingredients.
Make your own cinnamon tea
Cinnamon tea may be made with just boiling water and cinnamon sticks. Mix one cup of water and one cinnamon stick in a small pot. Bring to a simmer, then reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the remaining cinnamon stick, then sift the tea to capture any big bits of cinnamon. Drink hot with lemon, milk, or cream to taste.
Pour into your pho broth
Many flavorful Asian dishes, including pho, rely on cinnamon. To flavor your pho, add a cinnamon stick while making your broth. After the broth has finished cooking, remove the stick and any additional spices before serving.
Combine with basmati rice.
If you’re making an Indian meal or a delicious Persian rice served with raisins or dried fruit, throw in a cinnamon stick for a warm and woody flavor.
Decorate a hot toddy
Prepare this drink in autumn or winter, and garnish with a cinnamon stick for a festive touch. This whiskey-infused cocktail will be mildly flavored by the cinnamon stick.
How to use cinnamon sticks in cooking
How to use cinnamon sticks for health and wellness
Cinnamon sticks can be used to improve your health. Let’s check out some benefits that cinnamon sticks bring to our body!
Lower blood sugar levels
Cinnamon’s ability to prevent and cure type 2 diabetes has been widely investigated. For 12 weeks, 54 prediabetics were given cinnamon three times a day. Cinnamon reduced fasting plasma glucose levels, suggesting that it has the ability to reduce insulin resistance. Although the mechanism is not completely understood.
Improve brain function
Cinnamon has been shown to promote intelligence and protect the brain against age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Cinnamon has been found in animal models to reduce the impact of an excessive sugar and high-fat diet on cognition, which may be connected to its capacity to reduce insulin resistance.
Reduce blood pressure
Cinnamon is a natural substance that can assist in the treatment of hypertension and high cholesterol levels. Cinnamon supplementation helps lower blood pressure in adults, according to a new assessment of nine clinical studies. Cinnamon tea is an excellent choice for promoting relaxation and tranquillity.
Lower high cholesterol
Cinnamon has been demonstrated to lower excessive triglyceride and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels while having no effect on HDL (good cholesterol) levels. In one research, women with dyslipidemia reported an 8% drop in cholesterol content following eight weeks of cinnamon consumption.
Protect against microbiological illnesses.
Cinnamaldehyde, a bioactive molecule found in Sri Lankan cinnamon, has antibacterial effects. This molecule aids in the elimination of free radicals and has the ability to damage bacterial cells, stopping them from replicating.
Improve intestinal health
Cinnamon can assist to maintain healthy levels of beneficial bacteria while preventing the overgrowth of harmful bacteria. According to a 2017 study, cinnamon, in addition to six other common culinary spices, are prebiotic and supports bowel health.
Anti-inflammatory effects.
Cinnamon contains potent anti-inflammatory effects that can help with inflammatory disorders such as liver disease, colitis, and arthritis. Cinnamon chemicals can block pro-inflammatory signalling in cell pathways that contribute to inflammation.
How to store cinnamon sticks to extend its shelf life
The degradation of food, herbs, and spices can o ccur due to the interaction of air and light, known as photodegradation. Proper storage of cinnamon sticks can prevent this. The following tips can help:
- Keep the spices cool: Storing spices in a cabinet above a hot stove or near appliances that generate heat like an oven or dishwasher is not recommended. Instead, they should be stored in a cool pantry or cupboard. If purchasing cinnamon sticks in bulk, store them in a cool warehouse.
- Keep the spices dry: Moisture promotes mold growth, so it’s important to keep cinnamon in a temperature-stable environment to prevent condensation, which occurs when temperatures change from hot to cold or vice versa.
- Protect from light: While many people keep their spice rack on the counter, this exposes them to light. It’s better to keep spices in a dark place.
- Store in airtight containers: Though plastic containers are appropriate for short-term use, glass, ceramic, or metal containers like food-grade stainless steel are better for long-term storage of cinnamon. These materials don’t collect odors like plastic, and they provide superior airtight seals. Glass containers with an amber tint are available to block light.
Storing cinnamon sticks in warehouse
You can use your cinnamon stick for 2 years if you store it in a proper way!
Buying cinnamon sticks with K-Agriculture Factory
If you’re wondering where to purchase Cassia cinnamon, we suggest considering K-Agriculture Factory as a reliable option. We take pride in being one of the leading producers and exporters of cinnamon, particularly cinnamon sticks. Our primary objective is to export Vietnamese agricultural products while ensuring that they maintain excellent quality cinnamon sticks at affordable prices.
Contact us to get the newest quotation through:
Whatsapp: +84855555837
Email: info@k-agriculture.com
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