About Cinnamomum verum J.Presl
Cinnamomum verum J.Presl, also known by its former botanical synonym Cinnamomum zeylanicum, is named after Sri Lanka’s former name Ceylon. Mature Cinnamomum verum trees reach 10–15 meters (30–50 feet) in height. Their leaves are ovate-oblong in shape, measuring 7–18 cm (3–7 in) in length. The species produces greenish, distinctly scented flowers arranged in panicles. Its fruit is a 1 cm (0.5 in) purple drupe that contains one single seed. Sri Lanka currently produces 80–90% of the global supply of C. verum. Commercial cultivation of this species also takes place in the Seychelles, Madagascar, and Tanzania. On the island of Borneo, Cinnamomum verum is cultivated at low elevations in Sarawak’s Kuching District, Sabah’s Keningau and Sandakan districts, and Kalimantan. Cinnamon from this tree has a long history of use as a digestive aid in traditional medicine. Preliminary research suggests cinnamon may slow Alzheimer’s disease symptoms by reducing the oligomerization of beta-amyloid.
