Superfoods: Κανέλα, καννέλα ή κανέλλα;

Cinnamon is a spice found in the trunk of trees of the genus Kinnamomon. This spice has been known since ancient times as a precious gift, suitable even for gods and was imported from Egypt from 2000 BC. Nowadays, cinnamon is a traditional element of Oriental cuisine which has also influenced Greek, as many people love its smell and taste.

Cinnamon is grown by growing the tree for two years and then cutting the stalks at ground level. The following year, new shoots form and replace those that were cut.

The items that are often sold as cinnamon are:

Cinnamomum Cassia or Cassia, which is Chinese cinnamon, the most common type that we meet. It has a strong, spicy flavor and is commonly used in baked goods as it handles baking conditions well.
Cinnamomum Burmannii or Indonesian cinnamon.
Cinnamomum Loyreiroi or Vietnamese cinnamon.
Cinnamomum Verum or Ceylon cinnamon from which the essential oil is extracted Cinnamon Oil.

The nutritional value of the two types of cinnamon that are widely used (Cassia and Ceylon) are:

Nutritional Value per 100g
	Ceylon CINNAMON	Cassia cinnamon
Energy	285,49	245,25
Proteins	4,99	4,10
Carbohydrates	58,3	47,25
Fat	4,69	4,65
Magnesium	60,71	74,89
Calcium	690,01	1157,36
Phosphorus	62,10	66,31
Iron	10,73	2,74
Copper	0,65	0,41
Zinc	0,33	0,35
Potassium	381,67	197
Sodium	27,64	18,76
Fiber	21,27	33,41