Cinnamon sticks

In total there are four varieties of cinnamon used for commercial purposes. All varieties are somewhat similar with slight variations in colour, taste and shape. Cinnamon or dalchini as we call it in Hindi is the dried bark of various laurel trees in the cinnamon family. It has a sweet taste with a warm woody aroma. When whole cinnamon is ground the flavour becomes stronger and thus it should be used sparingly. It works amazingly with fruits, especially apples and oranges. When using the spice for savoury dishes it pairs perfectly with red meat curry dishes and biryanis and pilau specialities. Cinnamon is known to be a cough reliver and has been proven to reduce blood cholesterol.