We have to go back as far as year 3000 BC to find the first traces of cinnamon in Egypt, where it was used to embalm the dead. It's also named in the Old Testament, when God orders Moses to use cinnamon (and other oils) to anoint the temple.
Cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka, yet until the Middle Ages it wasn't clear where it came from. Greeks and Romans thought it was cultivated in Arabia and Ethiopia. According to Herodotus, cinnamon grew on the white shores of a shallow lake, where thousands of bat-like birds perched, ready to attack whoever would come close. To harvest cinnamon, the Arabs would disguise themselves with ox skin.
From the beginning of its history though, it was clear that cinnamon could be used as a medicament, for example as a remedy against flu symptoms, or as spice, to enrich both first courses and desserts. In the Middle Ages cinnamon became so valuable that it was often given as a gift to kings and queens.
Towards the 12th century, the Arabs started to have competition and at some point ceased to be the only cinnamon traders. The economic and political importance of spice trades, and cinnamon in particular, can be hardly underestimated. One of the reasons why Columbus started his journey was to find an alternative, untouched route for the spice heaven of the East.
Venice started to trade cinnamon from the Arabs and became the monopolist for spices in Europe. Their supremacy lasted until the beginning of the 16th century, when the Portuguese conquered Ceylon (old name for Sri Lanka), where most cinnamon could be found. After 100 years the Dutch came and took over Portugal.
Nowadays Cinnamon is cultivated in many countries, like India, Brazil and Vietnam to name a few, even though Sri Lanka still produces 90% of all cinnamon.
In spite of all the political and historical changes, the ways in which cinnamon is used remain the same: as a medicament, in the kitchen, and more recently to keep away insects.
Cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka, yet until the Middle Ages it wasn't clear where it came from. Greeks and Romans thought it was cultivated in Arabia and Ethiopia. According to Herodotus, cinnamon grew on the white shores of a shallow lake, where thousands of bat-like birds perched, ready to attack whoever would come close. To harvest cinnamon, the Arabs would disguise themselves with ox skin.
From the beginning of its history though, it was clear that cinnamon could be used as a medicament, for example as a remedy against flu symptoms, or as spice, to enrich both first courses and desserts. In the Middle Ages cinnamon became so valuable that it was often given as a gift to kings and queens.
Towards the 12th century, the Arabs started to have competition and at some point ceased to be the only cinnamon traders. The economic and political importance of spice trades, and cinnamon in particular, can be hardly underestimated. One of the reasons why Columbus started his journey was to find an alternative, untouched route for the spice heaven of the East.
Venice started to trade cinnamon from the Arabs and became the monopolist for spices in Europe. Their supremacy lasted until the beginning of the 16th century, when the Portuguese conquered Ceylon (old name for Sri Lanka), where most cinnamon could be found. After 100 years the Dutch came and took over Portugal.
Nowadays Cinnamon is cultivated in many countries, like India, Brazil and Vietnam to name a few, even though Sri Lanka still produces 90% of all cinnamon.
In spite of all the political and historical changes, the ways in which cinnamon is used remain the same: as a medicament, in the kitchen, and more recently to keep away insects.
About the Author:
If you want to know more about this incredible spice, then visit Alex's blog, to find out how cinnamon works, with recipes, history and more uses of cinnamon.
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