What is Saigon cinnamon? This is a very common question that we receive from both our readers and customers. Usually, you may hear quite a lot about Cassia or Ceylon cinnamon, or sometimes Vietnamese cinnamon or Chinese cinnamon, but Saigon cinnamon? That sounds strange! So in this article, we’ll find the answer and interesting facts about this amazing spice. Let’s go
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What is Saigon cinnamon? – A very common question!
“I’ve heard some friends talking about Saigon cinnamon’s benefits. But I don’t know what exactly it is. What is Saigon cinnamon? Is it a type of cinnamon?”
Cinnamon in general and Saigon cinnamon, in particular, are common and essential spices in our daily life. They appear in every corner of the world, in our kitchens, restaurants, and traditional markets. They are used for making delicious cakes, tasty dishes, warm and aromatic cups of tea… However, many people are still confused: What is Saigon cinnamon? So in this article, we’ll give you the clearest answer to the question “What is Saigon cinnamon?”, as well as other common questions relating to Saigon cinnamon. Now, let’s find out!
What is Saigon cinnamon? – A simple answer!
Overview of Cinnamon
To answer the question What is Saigon cinnamon? First, take an overview of Saigon cinnamon.
Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices which is known around 2000 BC. The Chinese were the world’s first discoverers and users, and after that, it was brought to Europe by the Silk Road and spread to many other countries in the world. At that time cinnamon was considered a useful medicinal herb and was used mainly in the preparation of medicines and in some religious rituals.
Cinnamon includes 2 main types: Cassia vs Ceylon cinnamon
- Ceylon cinnamon: Dubbed “true cinnamon”, Ceylon cinnamon is a very expensive spice, partly because it is difficult to grow, and partly because of its great taste. This type is mainly grown in Sri Lanka (85% Ceylon cinnamon is produced here), has a distinctive characteristic, mild flavor, and startling unique aromas of fruits, flowers, and clove-like… That’s why it is the favorite spice of all chefs in the world!
- Cassia cinnamon: Another type of cinnamon is Cassia, which is characterized by a spicy-sweet flavor, strong taste, and warming scent. After using them, you can feel a nutty and enticing taste that still lingers in your mouth.
People often refer to Cassia cinnamon as Chinese cinnamon because of its origin, however, in fact, Cassia can be classified into 3 types based on the country of production: Chinese cinnamon; Vietnamese cinnamon or Saigon cinnamon; and Indonesian cinnamon. Among them, Saigon cinnamon is rated as having the best quality, and Vietnam also accounts for about 24% of cinnamon exports worldwide – being one of the largest exporters.
What is Saigon cinnamon?
So What is Saigon cinnamon? As mentioned above, Saigon cinnamon is the same as Vietnamese cinnamon (or “quế trà my”, “quế Thanh” in Vietnamese) – which is grown and harvested in this beautiful country. However, compared to common cinnamon, its flavor is more intense and stronger.
Saigon cinnamon is known to many people for its spicy and slightly sweet taste, with a dark red-brown color. This is because Saigon cinnamon contains more cinnamaldehyde, the essential oil responsible for sweet and woody flavor. In particular, it has about 2-4% essential oil content, which is considered one of the most important factors to evaluate the quality of cinnamon. In addition, the cinnamon essential oil is also extracted and used for many different uses, therefore its price is also a bit more expensive than cinnamon from China and Indonesia. That’s why Saigon cinnamon is rated the most tasteful type in the world of cinnamon!
So What is Saigon cinnamon? In brief, Saigon cinnamon is a type of Cassia cinnamon, mainly grown and produced in Vietnam with a dark reddish brown color, rich in essential oil content, has a stronger but sweeter taste, and is a bit higher in price than regular cassia cinnamon. → quotes
Related questions you should know!
Is Saigon cinnamon good for your health?
For the topic: Is Saigon cinnamon good for your health? (What is Saigon cinnamon?), the answer is yes, and no.
Saigon cinnamon is famous for its higher cinnamaldehyde than most common cinnamon, which has amazing benefits for our health, but at the same time, its high level of coumarin content can become dangerous if we don’t use Saigon cinnamon in a proper way.
Benefits of Saigon cinnamon
For the topic: Benefits of Saigon cinnamon (What is Saigon cinnamon?), here is our answer!
As mentioned above, Saigon cinnamon especially contains an amount of cinnamaldehyde higher than regular Cassia cinnamon. Cinnamaldehyde is an essential oil that serves as an antioxidant to scavenge damage, prevent lipid peroxidation effectively and disease-causing free radicals. It also contains eugenol, a powerful chemical that helps protect cells and alleviate inflammation. Each serving of cinnamon also provides a little amount of fiber and minerals such as vitamin K, calcium iron, and manganese…
As a result, it has the following notable health benefits:
- Rich in antioxidants: Saigon cinnamon is high in eugenol and cinnamaldehyde, and these substances work as antioxidants in our body, neutralizing free radicals as well as preventing oxidative cell damage…
- Blood Sugar Control: When administered for 4 -18 weeks, Saigon cinnamon has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels.
- Relieves inflammation: Saigon cinnamon and its components are shown to reduce inflammation, which can lead to the development of some chronic diseases such as cancer or heart diseases…
- Improves oral health: Cinnamon has been shown to help kill dangerous germs and enhance oral hygiene. Therefore, it has been used as a benign remedy in the treatment of diseases related to mouth sores and toothache since time immemorial.
Read also: Amazing treats with cinnamon stick recipe
Side effects of Saigon cinnamon you should pay attention to!
For the topic “Side effects of Saigon cinnamon you should pay attention to! (What is Saigon cinnamon?)”, here is our answer!
Cinnamaldehyde levels in Saigon cinnamon are higher than in other varieties. This component provides an intense flavor and smell, as well as excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities. However, Saigon cinnamon, like other cassia species, is thought to be toxic in excessive amounts because of its high coumarin concentration. Consequently, Saigon cinnamon can be toxic and harmful to our liver and kidneys when used in an improper way.
Headaches, nausea, and diarrhea can be common side effects of coumarin usage. However, more dangerous signs including bruising or abnormal bleeding may indicate a more serious condition.
How much Saigon cinnamon can be consumed per day?
For the topic What is Saigon cinnamon? – How much Saigon cinnamon should be used? here is our answer!
If using Saigon cinnamon at a high level, it can be harmful and have negative impacts on your health. In some cases, simply half a teaspoon of coumarin might be over the recommended limit daily. However, if you know how to use it in an appropriate way and amount, Saigon cinnamon will be a great choice to bump up and enhance the flavor of food and your favorite dishes.
According to the research conducted by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), an acceptable daily dose of coumarin in cinnamon is 0.05 mg per pound (= 0.1 mg/kilogram) of body weight (based on animal testing)
This means that 2.5 grams or 1 teaspoon of Saigon cinnamon are an adequate amount that an average adult can consume each day.
Notes to buy good quality Saigon cinnamon
For the topic What is Saigon cinnamon? – Notes to buy good quality Saigon cinnamon, here is our answer!
- Know the characteristics of cinnamon well: If you do not want to buy fake or poor-quality cinnamon (due to long storage, and poor preservation), pay close attention to the appearance of cinnamon. You need to make sure that it is Saigon cinnamon – characteristic red-brown color, natural aroma; and most importantly, it has a sweet taste. Smell it carefully and taste it, the newer the cinnamon, the stronger the flavor will be and the aroma is light, not the strong smell but not as fragrant as the old Saigon cinnamon.
- Cheap, bitter – it could be Chinese cinnamon: In fact, much cheaper, lower quality Chinese cinnamon has entered the market and claimed to be Saigon cinnamon. However, the taste and price of these two types of cinnamon are fundamentally different, so be careful when buying cinnamon.
- Buy from reputable sellers: If you buy retail, you can find supermarket centers or famous sellers in traditional Asian markets. If you buy wholesale, you can refer to some reputable cinnamon production and export companies in Vietnam such as Visimex, Vinasimex (organic Saigon cinnamon), or K-Agriculture (popular Saigon cinnamon varieties: Cassia cinnamon stick, Cigarette cinnamon, Split cinnamon, Broken cinnamon, and Tube cinnamon). These companies are well known for their quality, long experiences, and competitive prices.
Thanks for reading, I hope that through this article, you have useful information for the question What is Saigon cinnamon?. If you need any other information or quotation for Saigon cinnamon, click here to talk to us!
K-Agriculture – About us
With the experience of producing and exporting cinnamon to nearly 20 countries in the regions of South Asia (such as India, Bangladesh), the Middle East (UAE, Pakistan), East Asia, and the United States…, K-Agricultural is proud of one of the best agricultural factories and leading reputable cinnamon suppliers in Vietnam. 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.
We build a closed linkage model from cultivation to consumption, ensuring the benefits of farmers, and production workers as well as customer satisfaction with the quality of each export cinnamon shipment, a professional and methodical working style.
Currently, we have a cinnamon growing area with an area of 3000 ha and a factory with an export production capacity of 1000 tons of cinnamon per year. The main export products include: Stick cinnamon, Cigarette cinnamon, Split cinnamon, Broken cinnamon, and Tube cinnamon
Contact us by filling in the form below:
Email: info@k-agriculture.com
Website: https://k-agriculture.com/
Whatsapp: Call Me
- Ms. Grace: +84 (855) 555-782
- Ms. Kris: +84 (855) 555-837