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Types Deep Dive

The 4 Types of Cinnamon

Not all cinnamon is equal. Compare flavor profiles, coumarin levels, health implications, and best uses across all four varieties.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Select up to 2 varieties to compare

Ceylon

🌿 Ceylon

Cinnamomum verum

True Cinnamon

Origin

Sri Lanka

Price

$$$$

Coumarin content0.017g per 100g
SafeEFSA limit ~0.1mg/kg/day

"Light, delicate, mildly sweet with floral notes and hints of clove"

Best for

  • • Supplementation & daily use
  • • Delicate desserts
  • • Teas and warm drinks
  • • Diabetic-friendly cooking

Avoid for

  • • High-heat cooking
  • • Bold savory dishes

flavor

health

value

availability

🔬 Health Note

Lowest coumarin content — safest for daily supplementation. Most cinnamaldehyde per gram in research-grade extracts.

Cassia

🇨🇳 Cassia

Cinnamomum cassia

Chinese Cinnamon

Origin

China / Vietnam

Price

$

Coumarin content0.31g per 100g
SafeEFSA limit ~0.1mg/kg/day

"Bold, spicy, and intensely sweet — the classic 'cinnamon' taste most people know"

Best for

  • • Occasional baking
  • • Savory dishes
  • • When budget is priority

Avoid for

  • • Daily supplementation
  • • Long-term high doses

flavor

health

value

availability

🔬 Health Note

Higher coumarin levels can be problematic in large daily doses. EFSA recommends limiting to ~0.5g/day for a 60kg adult.

Saigon

🇻🇳 Saigon

Cinnamomum loureiroi

Vietnamese Cinnamon

Origin

Vietnam

Price

$$

Coumarin content6.97g per 100g
SafeEFSA limit ~0.1mg/kg/day

"Extremely bold and intensely sweet — the most powerful cinnamon flavor of all varieties"

Best for

  • • Special occasion baking
  • • When maximum flavor impact is wanted

Avoid for

  • • Regular supplementation
  • • Children
  • • People on medication

flavor

health

value

availability

🔬 Health Note

Highest cinnamaldehyde content (up to 90%) giving intense flavor — but also the highest coumarin. Not recommended for daily supplementation.

Korintje

🇮🇩 Korintje

Cinnamomum burmannii

Indonesian Cinnamon

Origin

Indonesia

Price

$$

Coumarin content2.15g per 100g
SafeEFSA limit ~0.1mg/kg/day

"Moderately spicy and sweet — milder than Saigon but bolder than Ceylon"

Best for

  • • Everyday baking
  • • Cooking
  • • When Ceylon unavailable

Avoid for

  • • Daily high-dose supplementation

flavor

health

value

availability

🔬 Health Note

Better than Saigon for regular use, but still contains significant coumarin. Acceptable for occasional cooking.

Understanding Coumarin

Coumarin is a naturally occurring compound that can be toxic to the liver at high doses. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) sets a tolerable daily intake of 0.1mg per kg body weight.

VarietyCoumarin (g/100g)Safe daily amount (60kg adult)Verdict
Ceylon0.017~3.5 teaspoons✅ Safe for daily supplementation
Korintje2.15~0.25 teaspoons⚠️ Limit to cooking use
Cassia0.31~1 teaspoon⚠️ Occasional cooking only
Saigon6.97~1/12 teaspoon❌ Avoid supplementation