[Sca-cooks] Cassia vs. "True" Cinnamon (was Cinnamon question)

[Sue Clemenger]

I've got sticks in both true cinnamon (from the Pepperers' Guild), and
the more common Cassia, and they're distinctly different colors, as well
as smelling and tasting different.  My true cinnamon pieces are several 
shades lighter in color, so I guess you could say they're less harsh in 
color, as well as taste. ;-)
--maire, also enjoying the sugar beet thread, if only for the weirdness 
of how it relates to my everyday life, because the office in which I 
work IS an old sugar beet factory! <g>

Carol Eskesen Smith wrote:
> Dear Elaynne,
> 
> in re your locally available cinnamon sticks, if they're very thin
> and flaky, they're probably true cinnamon.  If they're fairly thick,
> they're probably Cassia.  True cinnamon has a milder, less hot flavor
> than cassia, with a little more clove note.  Cassia is harsher and
> hotter.