7 Ways to Incorporate PURE Ground Cinnamon into Your Diet
Cinnamon: The Spice of Life
Did you know that cinnamon was once more valuable than gold? It was used in ancient Egypt for religious practices and embalming rites, and also prized in Medieval Europe for its ability to mask foul odors.
And for those of you who can’t help but think “cinnamon roll” when you encounter the warm aroma of this succulent spice (we don’t blame you–cinnamon rolls are delicious), don’t forget that cinnamon is used across the globe in both sweet and savory dishes. Vietnamese pho, Indian curries, and Mexican mole sauce are just a few examples of the many recipes enhanced by this multifaceted spice.
About Cinnamon
Cinnamon has a bioactive compound called cinnamaldehyde, which gives it its warm aroma and flavor.
How to Grind Cinnamon in a Juicer
Friends, grinding cinnamon sticks in the PURE Juicer is simple: select a #2 grid, and grind the cinnamon sticks. You may want to grind it along with other spices in your recipe, or you can opt to grind the cinnamon sticks on their own – it’s really up to you. What isn’t up for debate is the strength of the PURE Juicer’s grinder!
Note: We prefer to grind spices, then add them to juices and milks rather than grind them into the produce mash. This will give you a stronger flavor and bigger bang for your buck.
See how to grind cinnamon and coffee beans together in your PURE Juicer
The Best Ways to Incorporate Cinnamon into Juicer Creations
1. Spiced Juice
Cold-pressed juice is so delicious and smooth you may not think you need a reason to spice it up. Adding a bit of cinnamon to your favorite recipe will give your juice a little kick, great for late afternoons when you might need to add a little pep in your step.
Learn how to make spiced sweet potato asian pear juice with homeground cinnamon
2. Flavored Nut Milks
We love flavoring our homemade nut milks with freshly ground cinnamon. One of our favorite recipes is for our homemade turmeric milk, a wonderful warm beverage.
3. Spiced Nice Creams
Did you know that making “nice creams” is as simple as freezing your favorite fruit and running it through the PURE Juicer grinder with a #2 grid? Try grinding some frozen peaches and stir in some PURE ground cinnamon for a sweet and spicy treat. Or, freeze some bananas and run them through the blender with some cinnamon-spiced almond milk.
4. Spicy Chai Tea
Whether you’re in the mood for hot spiced chai in a mug or a tall glass of iced chai, you’ll never go back to store-bought once you’ve ground your own chai spices!
Learn how to grind your own chai tea spices in the PURE Juicer
5. Purées and Baby Food
Purées are a great option for anyone who prefers softer foods. Make your own purées at home, and introduce cinnamon and other spices to the youngest members of your family by incorporating them into purées and using them as baby food.
6. Dog Treats
We love using leftover juice pulp to make dog treats for our furriest friends. Adding cinnamon to this dog treat recipe (so good you may eat them yourself) is a wonderful way to add variety for your pup’s palate.
7. Soups
Add cinnamon to savory dishes, including hearty soups for another layer of flavor. Consider adding your homeground cinnamon to a butternut squash soup or a vegetarian chili.
Learn how to use leftover juice pulp to make soups and stews
What Kind of Cinnamon Stick Should You Choose?
There are two types of cinnamon: Ceylon cinnamon and cassia cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon originates from the cinnamomium tree in Sri Lanka, and while it is often more expensive than cassia cinnamon (a distant cousin of Ceylon cinnamon’s, hailing from China), it is heralded as the “true cinnamon,” and is more nutrient dense than cassia.
Cassia cinnamon is the most common type of cinnamon and is generally what is found in jars of the ground cinnamon found in grocery stores. Unless the label indicates that ground cinnamon is Ceylon, you can assume you are working with cassia.
Ceylon or Cassia?
Cassia cinnamon is high in the chemical compound coumarin, and regularly consuming large doses of it is not recommended. This is a great reason to not take cinnamon supplements! As always, we recommend getting your nutrients from the source: through raw whole foods and spices.
That said, it would be very difficult for a person to reach a high level of coumarin by simply baking or juicing with cassia cinnamon.
Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about which to choose.
How to Tell the Difference Between Cassia and Ceylon Cinnamon
You can tell the difference between these types of cinnamon by simply looking at them: cassia is darker in color and the sticks are made up of a thick layer of rolled bark (what Americans typically imagine when we think of a “cinnamon stick”); Ceylon, however, is lighter in color, and its layers are thinner, more tightly packed, and more fibrous-looking.
Which Kind of Cinnamon Is Best to Grind?
In addition to their nutrition density and lack of coumarin, Ceylon cinnamon sticks are also softer than cassia cinnamon sticks, and therefore are quite easy to grind. For these reasons, Ceylon cinnamon is often recommended as the best type of cinnamon stick to buy for homeground cinnamon.
Of course, the PURE Juicer is strong enough to grind any cinnamon stick you throw into it, so your selection really comes down to price point and personal preference.
Where Should You Buy Cinnamon Sticks?
We buy our favorite cinnamon sticks online at Penzeys Spices, but you can also find cinnamon sticks at specialty markets like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Sprouts.
Once home, we recommend storing the cinnamon sticks together in a tall, airtight container.
Sources
Cinnamon: Plant, Spice, History, & Uses
Cassia vs. Ceylon Cinnamon: Are You Using the Right Kind?
Coumarin metabolism, toxicity and carcinogenicity: relevance for human risk assessment
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before changing your diet, especially if you have a health condition or take medication.