Cinnamon
Botanical name: Cinnamomum verum
Family name: Lauraceae
Commercial parts: Bark, leaf
Malayalam: Karuva (the tree), Karuvapatta (bark)
Cinnamon is one of the ancient spices which has been mentioned in The Old testament. The Kerala variety of cinnamon is next only to the original Sri Lankan variety. The spice is obtained form the inner bark of the Cinnamon tree, which is native to south east Asia.
Cinnamon with its delicate aroma and spicy flavour, is an essential ingredient in ‘curry masalas’ of India. Around the world it is a more popular ingredient in pastries and puddings. Products made of cinnamon include quills, quillings, featherings, chips, cinnamon bark oil and cinnamon leaf oil.
Cinnamon is also cultivated in the nearby state of Tamil Nadu.
Cinnamon is used as a flavouring agent in making confectionaries. It is also used in the making of liquor, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. While the cinnamon bark oil is known for its anti-fungal properties, cinnamon leaf oil is used in the manufacturing of perfumes and cosmetics.
Cardamom
