A favourite household spice, cinnamon was once traded as currency. The spice has a pleasant flavour and warm smell, making it popular for cooking, especially in sweet bakes and curries. Derived from the inner bark of a small evergreen tree, the bark is peeled and laid in the sun to dry, where it curls into rolls known as cinnamon sticks. Cinnamon is also available in powdered form. Ceylon cinnamon comes from the bark of cinnamon trees, which are small evergreens found in Sri Lanka and much of Southeast Asia. The bark is dried and can be ground or used in stick form to add sweetness and warmth to a wide variety of foods. Cinnamon is an important spice for curry, drinks, baked goods, and candy. Ceylon cinnamon also offers some impressive health benefits.
