Watkins introduced pure Cassia Cinnamon to its product line in 1895. In 1928 Watkins Pure Cassia Cinnamon was awarded the Grand Prize with Gold Medal for Highest Quality at the International Exposition, Paris. Saigon Cinnamon was introduced in 2004.

Cinnamon is one of the world's oldest and most popular spices; it is used in cuisines around the world and is the most important "sweet spice."

Cinnamon characteristics

• Color: Reddish brown

• Flavor & Aroma: Sweet and pungent

• Sensory Profile: Cinnamon is characteristically woody, musty and earthy in flavor and aroma. It is warming to taste. The finer the grind, the more quickly the Cinnamon is perceived by the taste buds.

Cinnamon is the dried inner bark of various evergreen laurel trees in the cinnamomun family. At harvest, the bark is stripped off and put in the sun, where it curls into the familiar form called "quills." Cinnamon sticks are made from long pieces of bark that are rolled, pressed, and dried.

True Cinnamon, also called Ceylon Cinnamon, is native to Sri Lanka. It is a pale tan color and has an exceptionally mild flavor; very pleasant, but so delicate that it seems weak to the North American palate. The Cinnamon used in North America is from the cassia tree, specifically Korintje cassia, which is grown in Vietnam, China, Indonesia, and Central America.

Possibly the most common baking spice, Cinnamon is used in cakes, cookies, and desserts throughout the world. Cinnamon is also used in savory chicken and lamb dishes from the Middle East. In American cooking, Cinnamon is often paired with apples and used in other fruit and cereal dishes. Stick Cinnamon is used in pickling and for flavoring hot beverages.

Cinnamon has been popular since ancient times. Egyptians imported it from China in 2000 BC. Romans believed Cinnamon was sacred, and Nero burned a year's supply of the spice at the funeral for his wife. Because Cinnamon was one of the first spices sought in the 15th Century European explorations, some say it indirectly led to the discovery of America.

Watkins Cinnamon

• Korintje cassia - The strongest in flavor; Watkins Cinnamon contains a minimum of 2% essential oil; many others contain 1 to 2%, and inferior brands have as low as 0.5%.
• Strict quality control - Each shipment is tested upon arrival for quality.
• Carefully ground and sifted - To assure uniform particle size and quality.

Watkins Cinnamon Products

Purest Ground Cinnamon, tin - #01115 - 6 oz/170 g - $9.99
Organic Ground Cinnamon, glass jar - #21605 - $5.49
Organic Cinnamon Sticks, glass jar - #21621 -$6.79

Health Tip

Nearly 16 million Americans have diabetes, and another 13 million have high blood sugar and are at risk of developing diabetes. Many require insulin or medication to control blood sugar levels, but a recent finding shows that a simple spice may hold promise in the fight to control blood sugar. The Agricultural Research Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that cinnamon made the body's cells more responsive to insulin, which, in turn, helps to control the level of sugar, or glucose, in the blood. Adding cinnamon to foods on a regular basis may prove to be the "spice of life" for many who are fighting with blood sugar problems.
Brenda Koth, MS, RD

Don't eat more sweets to get more cinnamon in your diet. Add it to the healthy foods you normally eat. Add to tea or coffee, sprinkle on toast, cereal, yogurt, ice cream.

Apple Cinnamon Cake

Topping
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 small package coconut
1 teaspoon Watkins Cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup butter, melted

Cake
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup Crisco shortening or butter
1 cup sour milk
2 eggs
2 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon Watkins Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups peeled, chopped apples

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place rack low in oven. Butter bottom of 9x13 inch baking pan.

For topping - In a small bowl mix sugars, coconut, cinnamon, chopped nuts, and melted butter. Set aside.

For cake - Mix flour, soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl.

Mix sugars in a large bowl and cream with shortening or butter.

If you don't have sour milk, make the milk by placing one tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice in a one cup measuring cup. Fill cup with milk to make one cup. Let sit for 5 minutes; then stir.

Beat eggs and add with the sour milk to creamed mixture, alternately with the flour mixture and ending with the flour mixture.

Finally stir in the chopped apples. Pour batter into prepared pan; then crumble coconut nut mixture over the cake batter.

Bake 50-55 minutes until golden brown. The topping bakes into the cake as the batter rises while baking.

Serve warm or at room temperature, plain or with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Calypso Spiced Walnuts

2 tbsp/30 ml orange juice
1/4 cup/60 ml sugar
1 tbsp/15 ml canola oil
1 tbsp/15 ml hot pepper sauce
8 ounces/227 g shelled walnuts (2 cups/500 ml)
2 tsp/10 ml Watkins Cinnamon
1/2 tsp/2.5 ml Watkins Cloves
1/4 tsp/1.2 ml salt

Combine first four ingredients in glass baking dish. Toss walnuts into mixture until well coated. Bake at 350 degrees F/180 degrees C for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring once. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cinnamon and cloves; toss to coat. Spoon onto waxed paper, separating nuts. Sprinkle with salt; cool to room temperature. Makes 2 cups.

Cinnamon Butter

1 cup/250 ml melted or softened butter
2 cups/500 ml sugar
2 tbsp/30 ml Watkins Cinnamon

Mix. Use on toast, muffins, pancakes, waffles. Store in refrigerator.

Orange Spice Tea

1 cup hot tea
1/4 tsp/1.2 ml Watkins Orange Extract
Dash of Watkins Cinnamon
Dash of Watkins Cloves

Cinnamon Spice Tea

1 cup hot tea
Dash Watkins Cinnamon

Lemon Spice Tea

1 cup hot tea
1/4 tsp/1.2 ml Watkins Lemon Extract
Dash Watkins Cinnamon
Dash Watkins Ginger

Cafe Vienna Coffee

by the cup
2 tsp/10 ml non-dairy creamer
1 tsp/5 ml sugar (or artificial sweetener to taste)
1 tsp/5 ml instant coffee
1/4 tsp/1.2 ml Watkins Original Baking Vanilla
Dash of Cinnamon on top