Facts about Cinnamon

1. 08

   A single teaspoon of ground cinnamon contains approximately 26 calories and delivers roughly 7 grams of carbohydrates along with 5 grams of dietary fiber.

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2. 07

   Studies on cinnamon's antimicrobial properties have shown that cinnamaldehyde can inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria at concentrations as low as 0.05 percent.

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3. 06

   Cinnamon bark's harvesting process involves peeling stems from cinnamon trees and allowing the inner bark to dry and curl naturally into the characteristic quill shape over several days.

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4. 05

   Medieval European merchants paid prices for cinnamon equivalent to the cost of silver by weight during the 13th and 14th centuries, making it one of the most expensive spices in trade.

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5. 04

   Cassia cinnamon, the most common variety sold globally, contains 63 times more coumarin than Ceylon cinnamon, a compound that can damage the liver in large quantities.

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6. 03

   Ancient Egyptians valued cinnamon so highly that Hatshepsut's expedition to the Land of Punt around 1500 BCE documented returning with myrrh and cinnamon as treasured tribute.

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7. 02

   Indonesia and Vietnam together produce approximately 75 percent of the world's cinnamon supply, with Indonesia alone harvesting over 100,000 tons annually.

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8. 01

   The spice cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde, a compound that studies show can lower blood glucose levels by up to 29 percent in diabetic patients.

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