CINNAMON BARK HYDROSOL
Flavoring, Relaxing and Breath Freshener
Getting to Know Cinnamon
The Latin name for cinnamon (cinnamon bark) is Cinnamomum. There are several types, but the most common is Cinnamomum verum (“verum” means true).
Cinnamon bark is obtained from the bark of the cinnamon tree, native to South and Southeast Asia. This spice, which has a strong aroma, was introduced to the Ottoman Empire under the name “dar-ı çin”.
Cinnamomum verum is a popular medicinal herb with a wide variety of applications. It has long been used in pharmaceutical preparations to add flavor to food and to treat various ailments. For commercial purposes, it is now widely used in candy, gum, mouthwash and toothpaste.
- In the 17th and 18th centuries, Portuguese traders brought this spice (C. zeylanicum) from Sri Lanka to Europe.
In ancient times, cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) was of great importance, especially as a medicinal condiment. It was used as a remedy and therapeutic agent for common ailments.
The history of cinnamon bark dates back centuries: it was first consumed around 2000 BC, and records of its use in ancient Egypt are for both culinary and medicinal purposes.
An ancient Greek inscription describes cinnamon bark and cassia as gifts offered to Apollo at the Temple of Miletus.
For much of antiquity, Arab merchants dominated the cinnamon trade. To protect their monopoly, they fabricated incredible stories about its origins.
According to an account by the Greek historian Herodotus, cinnamon bark was harvested by giant birds that used its bark to build their nests. Merchants would place large pieces of meat under these nests, and when the birds took the meat, they would drop the cinnamon bark. The fantastic Cinnamologus bird, The Hague Manuscript, Koninklijke Bibliotheek – Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts, Meermanno Manuscript Museum
The Persian physician Ibn Sina, who lived in the 1st century, included cinnamon bark in his famous medical texts and mentioned its warming properties and its effectiveness in treating colds, coughs, and inflammations.
Islamic merchants were also instrumental in bringing cinnamon bark to Europe via Mediterranean ports, especially during the Crusades, when intercultural contact increased.