cinnamon—more than just a spice
You’ve surely enjoyed the tasty flavor of cinnamon in your favorite foods and beverages. Cinnamon powder is especially popular in baked goods, oatmeal, and hot drinks for its ease of use and intense flavor.
Cinnamon can also be used as an insect repellent. You can add a few drops
of cinnamon oil to your favorite lotion to help fight off mosquitoes. Just
be cautious about how much you use, because cinnamon can also irritate the
skin. You’ll only need a few drops. If you can smell the cinnamon, you’ve
used enough.
You can also take cinnamon oil and dilute it with water to create an
insect repellent spray. This can be used on clothing and even plants to
help prevent problems with pesky bugs. It’s safe to use around children and
pets as well.
Cinnamon oil can also be used to kill mosquito larvae. Add a few
drops to standing water where you think mosquitoes may be lurking and you’ll
prevent an infestation. It’s a natural way to prevent problems from
mosquitoes without using harsh chemicals. It’s also very effective.
While cinnamon provides delicious flavor for foods, you shouldn’t
forget about all of the other things it can do for you. Make sure to keep
plenty of cinnamon sticks, cinnamon oil, and ground cinnamon in your stock
of herbs.
One word of caution—using too much cinnamon at once can cause
irritation in your mouth, skin, and can even cause problems with breathing.
Don’t try eating cinnamon by itself. Always dilute it with a liquid to
prevent these issues. When used correctly, cinnamon is a great additive to
your household routine.
Formulas and recipes
Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
-2 tablespoons cocoa powder
-2 tablespoons brown sugar
-1 tablespoon milk chocolate chips, finely chopped
-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1 teaspoon nutmeg
-1 cinnamon stick for stirring
-1 cup whole milk or substitute with almond or oat
Bring the milk to a slight simmer in a saucepan over medium low heat. In a separate bowl, mix all the spices, cocoa powder, brown sugar, and chocolate. Pour the warmed milk into the bowl and stir until the chocolate is melted and combined. Stir with a cinnamon stick and enjoy!
How cinnamon became so popular
Cinnamon is an ancient spice that has been around and in use for thousands of years. Around 2000 BC cinnamon was a highly valuable commodity in the Middle East. The spice was used as a perfume and a common ingredient for embalmment. It eventually was brought to Europe by the Arab people, where it became as popular there as it had been in the Middle East. The traders kept the location of the spice a secret so they could continue to make money off the spice without competition. The route to Europe was difficult, making cinnamon expensive and a status symbol among Europeans. Eventually, the spice was found elsewhere by Portuguese explorers who had control of the market for a while before cinnamon started losing its high value because it was being found and harvested in so many other areas of the world.
