Cinnamon And Cassia Explained

Cinnamon Vs. Cassia – What’s The Difference?

Cinnamon and Cassia are often used interchangeably. However, they are not the same. In the U.S., there is a great deal of confusion regarding the proper nomenclature for Cinnamon and Cassia. Cinnamon and Cassia oils come from the genus Cinnamomum, part of the plant family Lauraceae. Cinnamomum verum translates to “true cinnamon” (formerly C. zeylanicum) and is also known as Sri Lankan or Ceylon Cinnamon. Sri Lanka commercially grows this botanical and produces ground Cinnamon, Cinnamon Bark oil, and Cinnamon Leaf oil.

Asia cultivates a variety of Cassia botanicals. China and Vietnam grow Cinnamomum Cassia, also called Chinese Cassia or Chinese Cinnamon. Cinnamomum loureirii also known as Saigon Cinnamon, is farmed in Vietnam, while Cinnamomum burmannii referred to as Indonesian or Pedang Cassia, is produced in Indonesia. The ground spices and extracts derived from these species are most commonly called Cassia.

Cassia and Cinnamon may appear similar but differ significantly in key characteristics and flavor. Cassia is used in the U.S. and Canada, while Cinnamon is utilized in Europe, Mexico, and Sri Lanka. Cassia has a high coumarin content compared to the low coumarin content found in Cinnamon. The physical properties of these botanicals are also different. Cassia features a brown-reddish, hard, thick bark, which is difficult to break into small pieces. It imparts a bold, intense, sweet and spicy aroma and flavor. On the other hand, Cinnamon, obtained from the dried inner bark of the Cinnamomum tree, has light brown, thin, fragile layers rolled like a cigar and is easy to break into small pieces. It has a delicate, sweet, and mild nuanced flavor profile.

Trilogy Flavors takes pride in sourcing our cinnamon and cassia flavors from the rich botanical landscapes of Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India. This strategic selection process ensures that our products stand out with unparalleled quality and taste. Each batch carries the essence of its unique origin, resulting in truly one-of-a-kind creations. Discover a world of incomparable flavors and elevate your formulas. Request samples here and reach out to partner with Trilogy Flavors to spice up your next project.

A TASTE OF CINNAMON

For centuries, cinnamon has been cherished for its unique flavor and medicinal properties. It is so popular, National Cinnamon Day is celebrated annually on November 1. According to Medical News Today^a, cinnamon is the second most important spice (next to black pepper) sold in U.S. and European markets. Cinnamon flavors are on the rise in a variety of food and beverage introductions.

Sweets are a popular and expected application for cinnamon such as apple pie and cinnamon rolls. Desserts like Snickerdoodle cookies and churros are on trend. Within cinnamon-flavored products, bakery launches made up 21.3% over the past year^b. Tastewise’s data^c showed social conversations about Cinnamon Bun have increased by 21% over the past year.

Cinnamon is emerging in snacks and is gaining traction. In snacks, cinnamon has seen a +14.42% increase^d. Similarly, Spate’s November 2023 Snack Trends Report^e revealed that “cinnamon” snacks had 3.0K average monthly searches with a +15.1% YoY growth rate. Moreover, social conversations about Cinnamon have increased by 21.35% over the past year, according to Tastewise^f. Snacks are the fastest rising consumer need for cinnamon, and 28.71% of restaurants offer cinnamon on their menus. Cinnamon saw double-digit annual growth in seasonal fall and winter chocolate flavors, according to Innova Market Insights^g.

Cinnamon is also appearing in beverages such as tea, coffee, beer, and alcohol. For example, according to NielsenIQ^h, cinnamon has been one of the top-growing flavors in whiskey, with a 39.5% growth within the category over the past two years. Innova Market Insights’ dataⁱ showed that spices and seeds flavors make up 16% of new product hot tea launches, and spices and seeds have seen a +18% CAGR over the past four years in hot coffee introductions.

From cookies to cocktails, Trilogy offers distinctive cinnamon flavor profiles based on where the botanicals are sourced including China, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka, resulting in incomparable products. Request samples here and reach out to learn more about Trilogy’s diverse range of cinnamon and cassia flavors.

TIS THE SEASON FOR CINNAMON

Although cinnamon is popular year-round, fall and winter bring out the season for cinnamon flavors in the U.S. It connotes warmth with sweet and spicy accents and is often associated with nostalgia. Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte is the most recognizable and notorious, seasonal flavor, which turned 20 this year. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove are distinct notes in many pumpkin/pumpkin spice flavors. According to Nielsen^j, U.S. sales of pumpkin-flavored products reached $802.5 million for the year ending July 29, 2023, up 42% from the same period in 2019. Apple Cider, Mulled Cider, and Spiced Apple are also prevalent autumnal flavors, while Eggnog and Coquito are traditional winter holiday flavors.

According to a OnePoll^k survey of 2,000 U.S. adults who celebrate a winter holiday, food plays a huge role in holiday traditions for 83% of people. Respondents are motivated to create a holiday dish because their friends and family enjoy it (56%), they enjoy it themselves (56%), and because of tradition and nostalgia (43%). 56% of respondents have tried to re-create something for the holidays from their childhood – including favorite holiday meals (59%), baked goods or treats (59%), and decorations (50%). Furthermore, the study found that flavors and spices evoke feelings of holiday nostalgia and comfort. More than half (58%) of respondents chose cinnamon, followed by pumpkin (54%), peppermint (52%), cocoa (47%), and nutmeg (39%).

December is here and the holidays are quickly approaching. Cheers to the season with Trilogy’s Holiday Beverage recipe.

Trilogy Flavors directly sources our cinnamon and cassia raw materials from growers in specific cultivating regions for all of your cinnamon and cassia flavor needs. We have a plentiful supply of inventory and competitive prices. Request samples here and contact us to learn more about Trilogy’s product offerings.