So cinnamon has a flower name too - do you know what it is?
Cinnamon is an evergreen tree of the Lauraceae family. We use cinnamon often in daily life: in Chinese cooking it is frequently used when stewing meat, as it has the effect of removing unpleasant odors, while in Western cooking its uses are even broader, with cinnamon powder often added to coffee or tea as a seasoning. Cinnamon powder tastes sweet with a slight astringency, has a faintly spicy note and a refreshing aroma.
Cinnamon family and genus
Lauraceae, Cinnamomum
Other names for cinnamon
Yugui, Mugui, Jungui, Latin scientific name Cinnamomum cassia Presl
The origin of cinnamon
Cinnamon has a fairly wide range of origins in China, and is cultivated throughout the southeastern coastal regions, such as Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang, among which several cities in Guangdong are known as the hometown of Chinese cinnamon.
Botanical characteristics of cinnamon
Cinnamon is an evergreen tree of the Lauraceae family, about 12-17 m tall. The bark of the cinnamon tree is grayish-brown and aromatic; the leaves are long-elliptical and alternate, with slightly pointed tips, blunt bases and entire margins, green and glossy on the upper surface and grayish-green on the lower surface; they feel leathery to the touch; the flowers are axillary or nearly terminal panicles, the berries are dark purple, elliptical or obovate; the seeds are purple and long-ovate. The flowering period is generally from May to July, and the fruiting period is from February to March of the following year.
CinnamonEcological environment
Cinnamon mostly grows in evergreen broad-leaved forests, and is generally cultivated on sand dunes or sloping hillsides. It likes warm, humid climates with plenty of sunlight, and well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic red sandy loam is suitable for its growth; it generally germinates about one month after sowing, at which point weeds should be removed promptly, shade frames should be set up to prevent exposure to the scorching sun, and care should be taken to water frequently, keeping the soil moist and preventing drought.