Cinnamon, Dates, and Pecan

Cinnamon    

Forms Of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a tropical evergreen tree whose parts, either the bark or the leaf is used for a variety of purposes. The parts of the tree is broken down into many parts as follows

• Cinnamon chips (like wood chips) made from the bark of the tree
• Bark from the tree trunk rolled into sticks that are between 2-6 inches long
• The Cinnamon bark from the tree trunk ground into Cinnamon powder.
• The Cinnamon leaves from the tree steam distilled into an oil
• The Cinnamon bark steam from the tree trunk distilled into an oil

How is Cinnamon Used

Powder - The most common way cinnamon is used as Cinnamon powder for baking pastries, sprinkled on coffee or tea and just mixed with honey and eaten direct.

Sticks - However because Cinnamon powder goes stale quickly many people buy the cinnamon stick and use it whole in cooking, especially Asian curries. Many fine chefs will grind it into a powder for making fine desserts. However if you buy cinnamon powder that is packed in a sunlight and moisture proof package it will be much fresher than the powder sold in those glass containers found on supermarket shelves.

Oil - The Cinnamon oil which is made by steam distilling the leaves of the Cinnamon Tree or Cinnamon Bark is heavily used in food processing, fine perfumes, aroma therapy, medication (especially Asian medication), disinfectants.

Types Of Cinnamon

There are hundreds of types of Cinnamon. But only 4 varieties are used for commercial purposes. The chart on the right shows these 4 main varieties and their other names.

The main variety is Cassia Cinnamon which is mainly used in the USA and Canada. The second most popular variety is Ceylon Cinnamon which is primarily used in Europe, Mexico and many parts of Asia.. The other varieties like Saigon Cinnamon and Korintje Cinnamon are a distant 3rd and 4th and account for less than 10% of world wide consumption.

Properties Of Cinnamon

Germicidal, antiseptic, and anti fungal. anthelmintic, antidiarrheal, antidote, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiputrescent, aphrodisiac, astingent, carminative, digestive, emmenagogue, hemostatic, orexigenic, parasticide, refrigerant, spasmolytic, stimulant, stomachic, vermifuge.

Which Cinnamon Is Best

It all depends on how you use it. Cassia Cinnamon is popular in the United States because it has an overt Cinnamon taste, its cheap and quite spicy. It works great for recipes that need a definite Cinnamon taste. It also has high levels of (5%) which thins your blood. This is great if you want to loose weight and boost your metabolism but Coumarin causes liver damage if taken in excess.

Ceylon Cinnamon which has about 30% of the US market is fast gaining popularity for health reasons. It has low Coumarin levels (0.04%) and tends to be sweeter (with zero sugar).

As many diabetic patients and others have started to take Cinnamon on a daily basis they have switched to Ceylon Cinnamon. Because Ceylon Cinnamon is very mild yet sweeter and more fragrant it is used to create very multi layered complex flavors, often savory or sweet flavors.

Where Is Cinnamon Grown

Indonesia (70%) , China and Vietnam are the chief suppliers of Cassia Cinnamon while Sri Lanka a tiny Island off the coast India supplies nearly 90% of Ceylon Cinnamon. 

How Is Cinnamon Made

Cassia Cinnamon

 
The cassia Cinnamon is made by cutting the outer 1/16th of an inch layer of the Cinnamon tree trunk. Cinnamon tree is composed of one thick trunk. Because Cassia Cinnamon tends to be harvested when the tree is about 20 years old, the outer bark tends to be pretty thick. The rough grey skin is scraped off with a scraper. Then it is dried. As it dries it curls. Because the Cassia Bark is very thick, only one piece of bark is used for rolling into a stick. 

Ceylon Cinnamon

 
Ceylon Cinnamon sticks are made by first cutting the thin branches of the Cinnamon Tree. The branches actually shoot up straight from the base of the tree like a bush. The branches are cut right down to the stump which then regrows in 3-6 years. Then the branches are soaked in water to soften the outer bark. If it rains during the cutting process then there is no need to soak the branches.

Then the outer bark and knots are scraped away to reveal a soft inner bark which is then peeled in almost paper thin layers. These are then dried. As it dries these thin slivers of bark curl up. After it is dried multiple layers of the thin bark are rolled into a cigar like stick. on how it is made. It is soft, crumbly and easy to break into smaller pieces. However this labor intensive method of processing makes Ceylon Cinnamon much more expensive.

Reference  :

https://www.cinnamonvogue.com/cinnamon.htm

 Dates 

Etymology: The word ‘date’ comes from the Greek (by way of Latin and French) dáktulos, which translates as ‘finger’ – a reference to dates’ long, oval shape.

What are they exactly? Dates are the dried fruit of the date palm tree. Because of their high fructose content (about 80 per cent), the jury’s out on whether dates can really be classed as a healthfood. But there’s a trade-off - the health benefits of these little brown nuggets mean they do make an excellent replacement for the evil white stuff. Packed full of B and C vitamins, each date is also a potassium powerhouse (important in heart health as it helps to lower blood pressure), and rich in iron, too. Like most dried fruit, they’re full of fibre (one good reason not to go too mad on them), which helps prevent the build up of cholesterol. That said, they’re also high in carbohydrates and calories. You can’t be popping them in your mouth like blueberries. As with everything, moderation is key. 

What’s their history? Dates have been around forever. Fossils reveal that the date palm tree has existed for about 50 million years, and dates are thought to be the oldest cultivated fruit in the world. They’ve been grown and eaten in North Africa, the Middle East and Indus Valley for thousands of years, possibly since as early as around 6000 BC, if not earlier. Dates are mentioned in the Bible 50 times and 20 times in the Koran. As they are today, dates have been prized by people for their sticky, succulent sweetness and as a source of energy

How do I eat it? Pick one up, put it in your mouth and enjoy. Those struggling to cut sugar out of their diet often say that a date after dinner is one of the best ways to curb pudding cravings, but the humble date can also be elevated in countless ways. The Internet is inundated with date recipes, many of which use their natural sweetness to replace sugar when baking. I use them in flapjacks instead of butter and golden syrup to lend a wonderful earthiness (with an added dollop of worthiness).

Another brilliant way to use them is in milkshakes and smoothies. In a blender, whizz a banana, some cinnamon, 2 or 3 dates, a handful of oats and a big splash of almond milk for a filling, sweet and delicious breakfast that feels utterly indulgent. For the less worthy, they’re brilliant chopped into bread dough with some walnuts or in salad with blue cheese. Health food darling Deliciously Ella swears by them, while the pair behind Green Kitchen Stories use them to make a beautiful cheesecake of sorts, with a knobbly, nutty, crunchy base and golden saffron cream. One of best things about dates is their availability: supermarkets, local ethnic markets and Holland & Barrett all sell them for relatively little. Look out for medjool dates, whose balance between softness and sweetness is just right.

The Known Health Benefits of Dates – What the Date Fruit Has to Offer

Dates aren’t exactly a nutritional powerhouse when compared to some other foods like kiwi or sesame seeds, but the fruit does still offer numerous health benefits along with great taste. Here are some health benefits of dates.

• 1. Promoting Digestive Health, Relieving Constipation – Fiber is essential for promoting colon health and making for regular bowel movements. The insoluble and soluble fiber found in dates help to clean out the gastrointestinal system, allowing the colon to work at greater levels of efficiency. Some other benefits relating to fiber and colon health are reduced risks of colitis, colon cancer, and hemorrhoids. (Dates could even be coupled with other home remedies for hemorrhoids.)

• 2. Boosting Heart Health – In addition to promoting colon health, fiber is also known to boost heart health.

• 3. Anti-Inflammatory – Dates are rich in magnesium – a mineral known for its anti-inflammatory benefits. One study found that “inflammatory indicators in the body such as CRP (C-reactive protein), TNF (tumor necrosis factor alpha), and IL6 (interleukin 6) were all reduced when magnesium intake was increased.” Further, inflammation in the arterial walls was also reduced with magnesium intake. Based on magnesium’s anti-inflammatory properties and the findings of this study, magnesium can effectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other inflammation-related health ailments.

• 4. Reduced Blood Pressure – Magnesium has been shown to help lower blood pressure – and again, dates are full of the mineral. Additionally, potassium is another mineral in dates that has several functions within the body, aiding with the proper workings of the heart and helping to reduce blood pressure.

• 5. Reduced Stroke Risk – After evaluating 7 studies published over a 14 year time period, researchers found stroke risk was reduced by 9% for every every 100 milligrams of magnesium a person consumes per day. The research can be found in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

• 6. A Healthy Pregnancy and Delivery – Further adding to the health benefits of dates, one study performed by researchers at the University of Science and Technology set out to discover how the date fruit impacted labor parameters and delivery outcomes. After studying 69 women for a year and 1 month, the researchers found that “the consumption of date fruit in the last 4 weeks before labour significantly reduced the need for induction and augmentation of labour, and produced a more favourable, but non-significant, delivery outcome. The results warrant a randomised controlled trial.”

• 7. Boosting Brain Health – Some studies, such as one found in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that sufficient vitamin B6 levels are associated with improved brain performance and better test scores.

Reference   :

http://naturalsociety.com/health-benefits-of-dates-7-reasons-eat-date-fruit/

Pecan

A Pecan Timeline

1500’s

• Native Americans utilized and cultivated wild pecans

1600’s – 1700’s

• Spanish colonists cultivated orchards (late 1600’s – early 1700’s)
• English settlers planted pecan trees (1700’s)
• George Washington planted pecan trees (1775)
• Thomas Jefferson planted pecan trees (1779)
• Economic potential for pecans realized (late 1700’s)

1800’s

• Pecans exported by French to the West Indies (1802)
• Pecan budding technique discovered (1822)
• Successful grafting of the pecan tree (1846)
• First planting of improved pecans (1876)
• Commercial propagation of pecans begins (1880’s)

Pecan Nutrition

Pecans are prized for their high levels of antioxidants and omega-6 fatty acids, both of which are thought to protect heart health, lower cholesterol, and aid in disease prevention.

A study published in the September 2001 issue of the Journal of Nutrition found that eating a handful of pecans per day had cholesterol-lowering effects similar to leading cholesterol medications.

Pecans are also high in protein and fiber while low in saturated fat, which makes them a popular alternative protein source for vegetarians.

Pecans are also high in many vitamins and minerals including thiamin, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese.

How to Purchase and Store Pecans

When purchasing pecans in the shell, look for shells that are smooth, undamaged, and uniform in color. Shelled pecans should look plump, uniform in color, and never dry or shriveled.

After purchase, unshelled pecans can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 12 months without compromising freshness. Shelled pecans should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer and in an air-tight container. Pecans stored in the refrigerator will remain fresh for approximately nine months, while those stored in the freezer will keep for up to two years. Frozen pecans can be thawed and refrozen multiple times without compromising flavor or texture. Shelled pecans should only be stored at room temperature for up to two months and should always be in an air-tight container to keep out moisture and pests.

Pecan Availability

Although pecans are harvested in during the autumn months, they are available for purchase year-round. Most major supermarkets carry pecans, either whole or in pieces. Pecans are most often stocked in the baking aisle with other nuts and baking chocolates.

Pecans are also a popular item for bulk bins with other nuts and dry goods. During the holiday months, pecans are usually stocked more heavily as they are a popular item for holiday desserts and snacks.

 Reference :

http://www.ilovepecans.org/pecans-101/history-of-pecans/

https://www.thespruce.com/what-are-pecans-1328633