Origin and history
Cinnamon is one of the oldest known spices in the world. Originating in Sri Lanka, it was already used in ancient Egypt to embalm pharaohs and in imperial China as a tonic and digestive remedy. Prized for its warm, sweet aroma, it was long considered a precious commodity, traded for gold and rare stones. Portuguese and later Dutch explorers vied for its trade for centuries. Today, Ceylon cinnamon ( Cinnamomum verum ) remains the finest and most sought-after, used both in cooking and in herbal medicine for its numerous benefits to digestion, immunity, and metabolism.