Cinnamon: Did You Know?
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.
During the Middle Ages the Arabs were no longer the only cinnamon merchants. Spices (and cinnamon with them), became very important also from a political standpoint. Columbus' first goal for example, was to find a different route to the trades on other side of the world.
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.
Over the following centuries, cinnamon started to be cultivated in other areas in the East, even though the main producer remains Sri Lanka, with over 90% of cinnamon worldwide.
The uses of cinnamon haven't changed over the centuries. It's still used as a spice, in official and alternative medicine, and as insect repellent. - 17268
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.
During the Middle Ages the Arabs were no longer the only cinnamon merchants. Spices (and cinnamon with them), became very important also from a political standpoint. Columbus' first goal for example, was to find a different route to the trades on other side of the world.
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.
Over the following centuries, cinnamon started to be cultivated in other areas in the East, even though the main producer remains Sri Lanka, with over 90% of cinnamon worldwide.
The uses of cinnamon haven't changed over the centuries. It's still used as a spice, in official and alternative medicine, and as insect repellent. - 17268
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 dishes, history and other uses of cinnamon.
posted by X - Men at
9:43 AM
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