Organic Cinnamon (Ceylon) "True Cinnamon" Powder (Certified Fairtrade)

Our organic ceylon cinnamon powder also called "True Cinnamon" is imported in small batches from a fairtrade certified exporter in Sri Lanka. It is made from ground cinnamon sticks. It is a warm, fragrant spice favored in many fall and winter baked goods.

The cinnamon tree "Cinnamomum" is bushy evergreen tree of the laurel family "Lauraceae". The cinnamon tree is native to Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), the neighbouring Malabar Coast of India, and Myanmar (Burma) and is also cultivated in South America and the West Indies.

Cinnamon is used to flavour a variety of foods, from confections to curries to beverages, and is popular in bakery goods in many places. Essential oil is distilled from the bark fragments for use in food, liqueur, perfume, and drugs.

Cinnamon is loaded with powerful antioxidants, such as polyphenols. In a study that compared the antioxidant activity of 26 spices, cinnamon wound up as the clear winner, even outranking "superfoods" like garlic and oregano. In fact, it is so powerful that cinnamon can be used as a natural food preservative.

Cinnamon was once more valuable than gold. In Egypt it was sought for embalming and religious practices. In medieval Europe it was used for religious rites and as a flavoring. Later it was the most profitable spice in the Dutch East India Company trade.

How is ceylon cinnamon made?

• Cinnamon is made by cutting the stems of cinnamon trees. The inner bark is then extracted and the woody parts removed.
• When it dries, it forms strips that curl into rolls, called cinnamon sticks. These sticks can be ground to make cinnamon powder.
• The distinct smell and flavor of cinnamon are due to the oily part, which is very high in the compound "cinnamaldehyde".

What is the difference between cassia cinnamon & ceylon cinnamon?

• Both varieties come from the "Cinnamomum" tree family. Cassia from "Cinnamomum cassia" and ceylon from "Cinnamomum verum".
• Ceylon is tan-brown in color and contains many tight sticks with soft layers. These features provide a highly desirable quality and texture. It is less common and costs about 50% more than cassia cinnamon. Approximately 50% to 63% of its essential oil is "cinnamaldehyde", which is quite low compared to cassia. This explains its milder aroma and flavor.
• Cassia is dark brown-red in color with thicker sticks and a rougher texture. It is the type most commonly consumed around the world. Approximately 95% of its essential oil is "cinnamaldehyde", which gives cassia a very strong, spicy flavor.

What does Fairtrade certification mean?

• Fairtrade products are far more than just fair prices, they create sustainable impact in three interconnected areas: economic, social, and environmental. These are known as the three pillars of sustainability:
• Economic: Fairtrade sets economic Standards for farmers and workers to benefit from income security and financial independence. These include the Fairtrade Minimum Price for most commodities, which aims to provide producers with a safety net against falling prices, along with the Fairtrade Premium that provides producers with additional money to invest as they choose. Fairtrade also emphasizes long-term partnerships that help yield sustainable and decent livelihoods.
• Environmental: Environmental criteria emphasize ecologically and agriculturally sound practices, including responsible water and waste management, preserving biodiversity and soil fertility, minimal use of pesticides, and the prohibition of the use of GMOs. Organic production is promoted and rewarded by higher Fairtrade Minimum Prices for organically grown products.
• Social: Social criteria for small-scale producers include requirements on democratic self-organization, participatory decision-making, transparency, and non-discrimination. For hired labor, our Standards require non-discriminatory employment practices, fair pay, freedom of association, and safeguards for worker health and safety. Forced labor and child labor are prohibited under the Fairtrade Standards.

Who is "Joint Agri Product Ceylon" (JAPC)?

• JACP is a medium scale Fairtrade exporter in Sri Lanka that acts as a link between the country's small-scale producers and Western markets. For over thirty years, JAPC has built up a solid network of more than 3,500 producer families throughout the country. A supply chain based on respect and fairness that provides the basis for their diversified production of spices and teas, coconut products and fruits.
• These rural communities have never stopped practicing traditional organic farming. It's a way of life for these farmers, who follow integrated methods such as mixed farming, agroforestry, biodynamic agriculture and biological pest control. In this way, sustainable cash crops, tropical fruits, shade trees for timber, pest-repellent crops, medicinal herbs and home gardens can all be grown side by side on the same plot.
• JAPC rightly considers that these thousands of families are the real wealth of their company. They therefore maintain fair relations with these growers, guaranteeing them long-term purchase of their crops at above-market prices.
• The recipient of numerous awards, JAPC is recognized in its country as a model value-added organic exporter, both for the very high quality of its products and for its commitment to communities. JAPC also holds the most demanding certifications in organic, biodynamic and regenerative agriculture, food safety and quality, and fairtrade.