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Glitter Witch Gardens

Cinnamon

By 12/11/2024No Comments

Materia Poetica

Oh valued Ceylon Cinnamon, you might not be as sweet,
But deep inside our bodies you bring the warming heat.

Compared to Cassia Cinnamons you’re quite the safer bet
For taking too much cassia, your liver will regret

You’re native to Sri Lanka and a very pretty tree
Your spice, a prized possession and quite a hefty fee!

To rich and royal mummies, whose bodies you embalmed
You took them to the afterlife from here to the beyond

Speaking scientifically you really need no mate
For all you need is a slight breeze to help self pollinate

But if the bees and butterflies do happen to stop by
Cross pollination’s welcome too, from bugs that crawl and fly

Oh cinnamon, you’re winter’s pet with sweets for holidays
You make things taste so warm and sweet that all will gladly stay

To taste divine rich flavors, which you offer so freely,
I ask, this holiday season, honor cinnamon generously.

Happy Holidays!

ceylon cinnamon sticks with leaves
Cinnamomum verum

Cinnamon

Cinnamomum verum (syn. Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is specific to Ceylon cinnamon. While you are probably very aware of the cinnamon you can buy at a supermarket, what many do not know is that there are actually four types of cinnamon and they come from different parts of the world. Ceylon cinnamon is known as “true cinnamon” and “is indigenous to Sri Lanka, yet it is now grown in Seychelles, Madagascar, and Northwestern India but 80% of the global demand for Ceylon Cinnamon is fulfilled by Sri Lankan exporters.” The type you commonly find in a supermarket is Cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) and originates from Southern China and is now cultivated in South and Southeast Asia. Saigon cinnamon (Cinnamomum loureiroi), also known as Vietnamese cinnamon or Vietnamese cassia, originates and is also cultivated in mainland Southeast Asia. Lastly, Korintje (Cinnamomum burmanni), is also known as Indonesian cinnamon, Padang cassia, or Batavia cassia and also hails from Southeast Asia. It is also sold as cinnamon spice.

Cinnamon is special in that it is both self-pollinating and cross pollinating. This allows it to be more adaptable in different environments. While self-pollination means the pollen from one flower jumps to another without the interaction of pollinators, it also means that the genetic information doesn’t change and makes it more susceptible to a lack of diversity, thus making it more vulnerable to outside influences (disease, pests, etc.). Many insects, including honeybees, butterflies, wasps, flies, and ants are attracted to the sweet smelling flowers and allow for vital cross pollination to keep the plants genetically diverse and able to adapt to changes in their environment. This is why an environment filled with pollinator-friendly plants is so important.

Loss of habitat and increases in pesticide use are impacting the ecosystem and can severely impact the ability of cinnamon to reproduce effectively.

FUN FACTS

  • Cinnamon was commonly used to embalm mummies.
  • Herodotus (a Greek historian and geographer), Aristotle (ancient Greek philosopher and scientist), and other authors from times of antiquity recounted these giant “cinnamon birds” that would collect cinnamon sticks to make their nests. They were said to have collected these sticks from an unknown land where the cinnamon trees grew.
  • Just smelling the wonderful odor of cinnamon boosts brain activity!
  • Cinnamon doesn’t have a sweet taste but does amplify the sweetness in other ingredients.
Preserving

Harvesting and Drying

Cinnamon as you know it, comes from the bark of a tree. The bark of any tree is its outer layer that acts as a protector to the more sensitive interior areas of the plant that allow nutrients to travel from root to leaf and flower. Specifically, the inner bark is harvested from the cinnamon tree.

Because this is not a typical herb that you would harvest at home, I encourage you to watch the above 4½ minute video to see for yourself how labor-intensive this process is for both the harvester and the plant. 

Next time you use a whole cinnamon stick, I urge you to use it multiple times. The plant gave so much – it is the least we could do to honor it.

Herbal Actions & Medicinal Uses

Parts Most Frequently Used: Inner Bark, Dried flowers

Flavors: Sweet, Spicy

Properties: Warming, Drying, Stimulating

Used Most Often As: Culinary powder, Decoction, Tincture

With any herbs and supplements, always consult with a licensed health professional before use.

Herbal Actions

There is a marked difference between the cassia cinnamons (Cassia, Saigon, and Korintje) and ceylon cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is comprised of 0.004% of Coumarin, has antioxidant and antimicrobial qualities, and is safe for prolonged use. Cassia cinnamons are comprised of 5% Coumarin and can cause liver damage with prolonged use.

Coumarin is a constituent that can thin the blood. The Agency for Food Safety and Environmental Protection (EFSA) recommends no more than 0.1 mg per kg of body weight per day. People sensitive to Coumarin can experience liver damage from very low doses.

Below are definitions of the herbal actions. These are some of the herbal actions associated with Cinnamon:

  • Anodyne – Reduces or relieves pain.
  • Antioxidant – Combats oxidative stress and promotes overall health. 
  • Aromatic Stimulant – Warms the body and moves the blood.
  • Astringent – Tightens the soft tissues of the body.
  • Demulcent – Soothes and protects irritated or inflamed tissues..
  • Hypoglycemic – Supports healthy blood sugar levels.

⚠️ This herb has a few contraindications: ask your healthcare professional before using if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, show signs of allergic hypersensitivity, or you are taking medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) and high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs). Stop taking cinnamon at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery. Prolonged use of cassia cinnamons may lead to liver damage.⚠️

Ceylon cinnamon vs. Cassia Cinnamon
Cinnamon botanical drawing
Recipe: From The Wild Hunt

Yule Spiced Tea

I chose this recipe because what better season than Yule to incorporate a good spiced cinnamon tea. 

INGREDIENTS & SUPPLIES

  • 1 L of water
  • 9 oz of black tea or 3 black tea bags
  • 2 tsp of cinnamon or 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 tsp ground nutmeg or equivalent grated
  • 1 thumb or 2 inch piece of fresh ginger
  • ½ an orange

DIRECTIONS

  • Slice the ginger into strips and the orange into slices.
  • If you’re using loose leaf tea pack it into a separate tea ball, reusable tea bags, or something else that will allow you to remove it separately from the spices.
  • Put all the ingredients into the pot and cover with boiling water then leave to steep for five minutes.
  • After five minutes remove the tea and allow to steep for a further five minutes before pouring.
  • While I tend to drink mine black sweetening your tea with honey can add another layer of ritual significance to the drink.
Cinnamon Yule Tea
DOWNLOAD THE RECIPE CARD

Horticultural Information

Unless you live in a tropical-like state, you will not be able to grow Ceylon cinnamon outside. However, if you want to try your hand at growing a plant indoors, you might want to keep a few growing tips in mind: 

Start by buying a seedling plant. I bought mine off a grower in Melbourne, FL selling on Etsy and got a 2.5 inch pot. (CLICK HERE if you want one too – no affiliation, just a satisfied customer).

Let’s start with location. Make sure your plant is in a room that will be between 70 and 90 degrees and humid. If your location is like mine, I am running dry heat all winter, so adding a humidifier to the room will be helpful. Light is also a consideration. These trees are used to being under other trees and do not like being in direct sunlight, so don’t put them in your southeast facing picture window.

Their soil needs to stay moist, but not wet. Nobody likes soggy feet! Plant them in well-drained, sandy loam with a good mix of organic compost soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.5. When the plants are growing, be sure to use a well-balanced fertilizer in the spring and fall. During the winter months, they should slow down, so lay off the fertilizer until you start to see that new growth starting again.

As your plant starts to squeeze out of its pot, it will be time to give it a larger home. Make sure you get one large enough that you can double the root space, but not so big that it gets lost. When replanting it, be sure to spread the roots out so they do not girdle, or twist around themselves. Enjoy your beautiful spice tree for years to come.

New USDA Hardiness Zone(s), as of 2023: 10-12

New USDA Hardiness Zone Map as of 2023
New USDA Hardiness Zones as of 2023

Materia Magicka

Cinnamon holds many magical properties and has been used in ceremonies since ancient Egypt. It is often used in rituals and spells for transformation and manifestation, to attract abundance and success, and protect against negative energies and evil spirits. The most common usage is for:

  • protection spells
  • prosperity spells
  • love spells

Below is some of the symbolism associated with Cinnamon.

Planets: Constellations:
☉ Sun & ♂ Mars   ♈️ Aries
Element: Chakra:
  🜂 Fire   ◉ Sacral Chakra
Energy: Crystals/Stones:
  ☯ Yang   Hessonite Garnet (aka, Cinnamon Orange Stone)
Day of the Week: Celebrations:
  November 1st is National Cinnamon Day   Samhain, Yule
Deities: Tarot:
  Norse: Baldr
  Greek: Aphrodite
  Roman: Apollo
  Welsh: Branwen
   Minor Arcana: King of Swords
  (The Herbal Tarot)
Cinnamon Sacral Chakra

Cinnamon Abundance Ritual

This is a “once-a-month” simple ritual, as well as an ongoing visualization practice. Both will help you focus your intended prosperity into your life.

*Please note that all spells you read (including this one) should be considered a guide, as your intuition and intention are the power behind them. 

What You’ll Need:

  • Cinnamon powder
  • New Moon

Preparations: 

  • On the new moon, take a small amount of powdered cinnamon into your hand. Step outside your front door, then turn back to face the open doorway. Open your hand and blow the cinnamon into the door, imagining your home being filled with the abundance you manifest while saying the incantation below.

Incantation: 

Abundance and prosperity flow swiftly to me,
This new moon invites blessings for my home and family.

 

✨💖 ✨ Blessed Be. ✨💖 ✨

References

The following sources were used to research the above information. 

  1. Devon Web Design and Development by Net Glue. (2016, December 20). History of cinnamon. https://www.jp-associates.co.uk/news/history-of-cinnamon/
  2. John Lloyd Morgan | The Cinnamon Stone. (n.d.). https://johnlloydmorgan.com/the-cinnamon-stone/
  3. Correspondence: Cinnamon – kosi. (2021, January 29). https://www.kosi-sings.com/2021/01/29/correspondence-cinnamon/
  4. Witchwood, L. (2015, February 26). The magickal aspects of cinnamon and cassia. https://www.themagickkitchen.com/the-magickal-aspects-of-cinnamon-and-cassia/
  5. Cinnamon Soil requirements | Understanding Cinnamon Soil Requirements for Successful Cinnamon cultivation. (n.d.). https://www.agrownet.com/contents/en-us/d340438_Cinnamon_Soil_requirements.html
  6. Burlando, B.; Verotta, L.; Cornara, L.; Bottini-Massa, E. (2010). Herbal principles in cosmetics: properties and mechanisms of action. Boca Raton: CRC Press. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-4398-1214-3.
  7. Herodotus, Book 3, sections 3.107-113. Wheeler, James Talboys (1852). An Analysis and Summary of Herodotus: With a Synchronistical Table of Principal Events; Tables of Weights, Measures, Money, and Distances; an
  8. Outline of the History and Geography; and the Dates Completed from Gaisford, Baehr, Etc
  9. Toussaint-Samat 2009, p. 437f.
  10. Wikipedia contributors. (2002, May 25). Cinnamon. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon
  11. Rathnayake, Z. (2022, April 19). Harvesting ‘true cinnamon’: The story of the Ceylon spice. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2021/10/18/harvesting-true-cinnamon-the-story-of-the-ceylon-spice
  12. Prana Chai. (n.d.). Chai 101 – Fun Facts about Cinnamon in Prana Chai. https://pranachai.com/blogs/prana-chai-blog/fun-facts-about-cinnamon-in-prana-chai
  13. Rankel, K. (2024, November 22). Everything you need to know about pollinating cinnamon. Greg App. https://greg.app/pollinate-cinnamon/
  14. McIntosh, J. (2024, February 9). How to grow and care for cinnamon plant. The Spruce. https://www.thespruce.com/cinnamon-plant-care-and-growing-guide-4690725
  15. Cinnamon Soil requirements | Understanding Cinnamon Soil Requirements for Successful Cinnamon cultivation. (n.d.). https://www.agrownet.com/contents/en-us/d340438_Cinnamon_Soil_requirements.html
  16. Witchwood, L. (2015, February 26). The magickal aspects of cinnamon and cassia. https://www.themagickkitchen.com/the-magickal-aspects-of-cinnamon-and-cassia/
  17. Correspondence: Cinnamon – kosi. (2021, January 29). https://www.kosi-sings.com/2021/01/29/correspondence-cinnamon/
  18. John Lloyd Morgan | The Cinnamon Stone. (n.d.). https://johnlloydmorgan.com/the-cinnamon-stone/
  19. Devon Web Design and Development by Net Glue. (2016, December 20). History of cinnamon. https://www.jp-associates.co.uk/news/history-of-cinnamon/
  20. Tiwari, A. (2023, January 10). Ceylon Cinnamon Care: How To Grow A True Cinnamon Tree. Everglades Farm. https://everglades.farm/blogs/news/ceylon-cinnamon-care
  21. Lanka, E. S. (2021, August 5). The difference between cassia and true ceylon cinnamon. https://www.srilankabusiness.com/blog/difference-between-cassia-and-ceylon-cinnamon.html

Image Attributions. 

  1. By Augustus Binu, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73472038

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