ABSTRACT
Cinnamon and cassia have been used as spices and medicines since ancient times and have long been held in high esteem as aromatics as well as ingredients of oils and perfumes. Chinese cassia, along with clove, was used by the ancient Egyptians for embalming. Sponges soaked in extracts of cinnamon were used for bathing by the privileged classes of the ancient and medieval world to protect the body from diseases. Cinnamon was also sometimes used as barter money for payment of loans, in place of precious metals. Cinnamon was mentioned in many books by the end of the middle ages as an ingredient of throat and cough medicines. Most western countries do not differentiate much between cinnamon and cassia. In the US, cassia cinnamon is more popular and has almost wholly replaced Ceylon cinnamon in the market. A brief discussion on the end uses of cinnamon and cassia is presented below.
