Our Royal Cinnamon has been harvested in the mountains around the ancient Vietnamese capital city of Huế for centuries. This is an heirloom variety not widely harvested or exported, and it exemplifies the intense sweetness and spiciness for which Vietnamese cinnamon is prized. Use it in place of Saigon or other cinnamons in pastries and baked goods, or sprinkle into rich, savory meat or tomato-based dishes.
Royal Cinnamon is the species Cinnamomum loureiroi. It was historically called Saigon cinnamon, but most of what's exported as Saigon cinnamon these days is Cinnamomum cassia. They are different species, but they are often confused for one another, and it's worth noting that neither cinnamon grows anywhere near Saigon!
If you're looking for cinnamon that's less sweet and spicy and more citrusy and complex, check out our Cinnamon Verum.
Highlights
Quang Nam Mountains, Vietnam
Saigon cinnamon, cassia cinnamon
Sun-dried
Royal cinnamon, ground (Cinnamomum loureiroi)
Brown Butter • Buckwheat Honey • Orange Peel
Cooking tips
- Beautiful in baked goods, spice cookies and desserts
- Sprinkle over yogurt and oatmeal, and add to smoothies
- Brew with your favorite coffee or tea
RECIPES
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Saffron Bread Pudding -
Lamb Meatballs, Spiced Tomato Sauce, Mint, and Feta -
Spiced (Carrot) Cake with Apple Filling and Cream Cheese Frosting -
Pumpkin-Spiced Granola -
New York-Style Crumb Cake -
One Syrup, 3 Drinks -
Banana Chocolate Chip Walnut Muffins -
Caribbean-Inspired Spiced Breakfast Porridge -
Qabuli Pilau/Spiced Rice -
Chai Spice Cake with Ginger Cream Cheese Frosting -
Guava, Apple & Nutmeg Crumble -
Easy Cinnamon Rolls -
Carrot Layer Cake with Ginger Cream Cheese Mousse -
Brown Butter-Cinnamon Crumb Cake -
Glazed Pumpkin Spice Cookies
SOURCING
Our Royal Cinnamon comes from the mountains of Quang Nam in central Vietnam. This area was historically famous for spicy, sweet cinnamon, but in the last decade, the commodity market has shifted further north, where the prices are lower. Everyone told us that this area wasn't worth visiting and that their heirloom cinnamon variety wasn't being harvested anymore. We were very happy to discover that's not the case - the cinnamon here IS being harvested, and is incredible, probably the most intense we've ever tasted.
They use a technique for harvesting cinnamon that we've never encountered before - instead of chopping down the tree to harvest the bark, they make a deep cut around the base of the tree and let the bark dry on the tree for a couple of weeks before harvesting it. That makes it easier to harvest, but it also concentrates essential oils rather than letting them evaporate as the bark dries in the hot sun. The bark comes off the tree mostly dry and very intensely spicy and sweet, with a beautiful fragrance that we could smell from half a mile away.
HEALTH BENEFITS
While we do not make any health claims on any of our spices, there has been some historic and limited recent evidence that cinnamon can potentially be helpful for:
- Antibacterial and Antifungal Treatments: Cinnamon oils have demonstrated antibacterial and antifungal activity, and show potential for future alternative and/or synergistic treatments for bacteria and yeast. (A, B, C, D, E, F, G)
- Cancers: Research has shown some increasing evidence that cinnamon contains some anticancer properties by inducing apoptosis of cancer cells and inhibiting tumor cell growth. (A, B)
- Cognition and Alzheimer’s Disease: Cinnamon might boost the ability of the brain to utilize glucose, improve cognitive function and help fight Alzheimer’s disease by inhibiting aggregation of a protein called tau.
- Glycemic Control: Some research has shown cinnamon to be effective in increasing insulin sensitivity and improving fasting blood glucose levels, with potential to support glucose control treatment in the future. (A, B, C ,D)
- Dyslipidemia: Cinnamon has shown to be effective in reducing triglycerides, total cholesterol and/or LDL-C in some studies. (A, B, C, D)
Further clinical studies are warranted and in progress. Please always consult your healthcare provider. This is not intended as medical advice.
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United StatesMade the best Snickerdoodles of my life
Every spice I’ve ordered from here has been a revelation. Can’t wait to sample them all.
United StatesAmazing
How different can cinnamon really be? I told myself. One whiff from the newly opened jar and I said ‘Oh, that’s how.’ It has a deeper, complex smell and flavor to me than store cinnamon. Quite good.
United StatesOne of the Best Cinnamons Ever
Burlap & Barrel's Royal Cinnamon is one of the best cinnamons I've had in my entire life. It's sweet, spicy, and incredible. It's perfect for baking, sprinkling on your morning oatmeal, or dusting on top of a latte. I've been using it for a lot of my autumn baking, and I'm really looking forward to using it in my Thanksgiving and Christmas bakes!
United StatesMy daily oatmeal gets 5 stars now!
In these cooler months I make oatmeal every morning. I just have to say, your Royal Cinnamon makes the day! So fresh, so clean, so cinnamon-y. Thank you for your good work in sourcing such beautiful and delicious spices and herbs. An ordinary bowl of oatmeal becomes a masterpiece with your help.
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