In a material store, cinnamon bark does not sit in one heap. It sits in several groups, and where each group is going has already been decided before it is weighed.
The familiar classification follows shape: quills, sticks, split bark, broken pieces and powder. Alongside that, bark is graded by thickness and by the curve of the sheet. Each group suits a different purpose, from making objects to seasoning food and distilling oil.
The groups you will meet
- Quills: sheets rolled closed into a tube, thick and handsome, used for display and for pieces that need form.
- Sticks: sheets partly rolled or cut into lengths, used in the kitchen and in drinks.
- Split: sheets split lengthwise into strips, used for cooking and for steeping.
- Broken pieces: what breaks during peeling and drying, usually going to oil distillation or grinding.
- Powder: ground from bark, used in the kitchen and in some food industry applications.
Why the curve is one of the criteria
For someone using cinnamon as a spice, the curve does not matter. For someone using cinnamon bark as a material, it is the first criterion. A vessel joined from two sheets of bark only closes if the curves of the two sheets match; a slight mismatch leaves a gap, and that gap cannot be dealt with by sanding.
At ZUNGZA, once the bark is dry and rested, we sort first by thickness and then by curve, and only part of a batch goes into the vessel line. The rest is still usable for other purposes, but not for joining vessels. This is how we work in our workshop.
What to ask when buying by grade
Ask three things: the grade group and the criteria for that group, the growing area and the harvest season, and the moisture content of the batch. For a large order, ask for a representative sample of the actual batch to be delivered rather than a sales sample. It is a very simple step but it settles most quality disputes.
A few questions you often send us
Does thicker bark mean a stronger scent
Not automatically. Thick bark usually goes with older trees and often carries a clearer woody base in the smell, but how fragrant it is also depends on the growing area, the harvest season and the drying.
Is broken bark an inferior product
No. For oil distillation or grinding into powder, broken pieces are the suitable and more economical group. It is only poor goods when it is sold as a higher grade.
How long does cinnamon powder keep
Powder loses its smell faster than sticks and quills because the surface area is far larger. Keep it sealed, cool and away from light, and buy moderate amounts rather than stocking up.