Our Cinnamon Tree Leaves contain the delicate essence of cinnamon and are a slightly sweeter, more interesting alternative to traditional bay laurel leaves. They also make a beautiful cinnamon tea: just infuse a few leaves in a teapot with hot water.
The leaves are a byproduct of our Cinnamon Verum, where leaves are collected from the branches being harvested for bark. By harvesting the leaves, our partner farmers are able to make more money from their cinnamon trees. Cinnamon leaves are a traditional ingredient in rice dishes and stews, where they add a complex herbal flavor and cinnamon perfume.
Highlights
Ingredients
True Cinnamon Tree Leaves (Cinnamomum verum)
Cooking tips
- Steep in boiling water for a cinnamon tea
- Use as a bay leaf replacement in chilis and stews
- Add a few leaves to your next pot of rice
SOURCING
Cinnamon tree leaves have traditionally been a byproduct of the cinnamon harvest. Since they contain the delicate essence of the cinnamon, we thought to put them to use.
Our cinnamon tree leaves come from the evergreen tree of the genus Cinnamomum aka Ceylon cinnamon. Our cinnamon tree leaves are grown by a cooperative of smallholder farmers on the Zanzibar islands off the east coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean, many of whom have been cultivating cinnamon and other spices (including our cloves, nutmeg and black pepper) for generations. They grow on the steep hillsides rising above the beach, where they thrives in the hot sun, salty breeze and sandy soil, a terroir that contributes to a subtle, smooth flavor without any bitterness. The cinnamon tree leaves are gathered by hand and sun-dried to order throughout the year to guarantee the freshest and most intense flavor.