Cassia

Hindi Name: Dal Chini

Botanical name: Cinnamomum cassia Blume

Family name: Blume Lauraceae

Commercial part: Bark and leaf

Cassia is the spice that has its mention in the bible and hence is regarded as the first cinnamon species that was known and used centuries ago also. It is believed that cassia made its way to Europe during the time of Alexander the great. Before this era, cassia was transported to Egypt and Israel and it was an important part of the mummification mixtures used for the pharaohs.

Cassia contains 4% essential oil of which 75 to 90% are composed by cinnamic aldehyde and eugenol is found in traces along with small amounts of coumarin. Today the commercial cultivation of this spice is restricted to Southern China, Burma, Laos and Vietnam and is the preferred cinnamon species from peninsular South East Asia to Central Asia. In India, cassia is grown in the northeastern states and in the evergreen tracts along the high ranges of the Western Ghats.

Cassia bark is a popular ingredient in foods, beverages, perfumery, toiletries and cosmetics, while cassia oil has an extensive application in liquors and beauty products.

Cassia, a world favorite and essential for flavor spice is the dried husk (bark) of a small, bushy evergreen tree. There are different varieties of cassia, obtained from different species of Cinnamomum that originate from different sources. Among the famous ones are, 'Chinese', 'Indonesian', 'Saigon', 'Vietnamese' and 'Indian' cassia.

These varieties have a strong aroma and are slightly sweet, warm, bitter and mucilaginous flavor. Compared to Ceylon cinnamon, cassia tastes slightly bitter and it lacks the "liveliness" of cinnamon. Though there is a generic likeness in the aromatic properties of the various species of cassia, they do exhibit differences in some respects.

Name in International Languages
Spanish:	Canela de la China
French:	Cannelle de cochinchine
German:	Z Limtkassie
Swedish:	Kassia
Arabic:	Darasini
Dutch:	Kassia
Italian:	Cassia
Japanese:	Bokei
Chinese:	Kuei / Kwei