Cinnamomum cassia
Cassia
The Cassia ( Cinnamomum cassia or Cinnamomum aromaticum also ) is a species of the laurel family ( Lauraceae ). It is the source for the so-called Cassiazimt (spice bark), which is often referred to as an inferior kind of cinnamon. Despite this confusion is not a true cinnamon cassia, but our own spice.
Use
In the Cassia bark-like bark is used directly as a spice (hence the German name " spice bark "). The six -to seven- year-old branches are debarked. The bark is usually very superficial, freed from the outer parts, the Korkmantel and dried.
To obtain finer cassia qualities that often braid -covered tannin bark is peeled off. Thus, the taste is improved, because the cinnamon tastes all the more bitter, the tanning agents he is.
The two Grinde ( Greek " xylocassia ") of cassia cinnamon is generally much thicker and coarser than that of the Ceylon cinnamon tree ( Cinnamomum verum). She rolls around as opposed to this from both sides cylindrical one.
Potential Health Effects
In the less expensive compared to Ceylon Cassiazimt that is at high doses contain harmful coumarin in higher order multiples doses. Particularly in the industrial production and use of the more expensive Ceylon cinnamon is always blended with Cassiazimt so coumarin enters the final product. ( Rhineland -Palatinate ) Zimtprodukte were discovered recently in the fall of 2006 in Germany, which had 103 mg coumarin per kilogram, while the peak of flavor regulation is only 2 mg / kg ( to 1 November 2006, however, 67 mg / kg). According to previous studies in North Rhine -Westphalia in January 2006, warned in June 2006, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR ) in a statement to the consumption of large quantities of cinnamon and cinnamon-containing products: even with consumption of 20 grams of the highest loaded Cinnamon daily (equivalent to many Brands three pieces) over a longer period would be achieved in infants receiving the maximum tolerable. A second opinion of the BfR refers to cinnamon capsules that are sold for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type II. Further checks were announced in October 2006 by the Ministry of Consumer Protection. Unequivocal evidence of the alleged dangers of coumarin during normal use of coumarin -containing spices However, there are not to this day. In all studies, a harmful effect occurred only after extreme overdoses on in experiments on rats.