10/31/2026
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently issued public health alerts and recalls involving certain ground cinnamon products because of elevated lead levels. These concerns highlight the importance of understanding not only where cinnamon comes from, but also the type, grade, form, and quality of the product you choose.
Understanding cinnamon:
CASSIA VS. CEYLON CINNAMON
Cassia cinnamon, also known as Chinese or Saigon cinnamon, comes from the bark of the Cinnamomum cassia tree. Often called "fake" cinnamon, it has a thick, hard, single-layered scroll that is dark reddish-brown. It features a strong, pungent, and warm aroma. Cassia is high in coumarin (about 5%), a natural compound that can damage the liver if consumed daily in large amounts.
Ceylon cinnamon, also known as "true" cinnamon, comes from the bark of the Cinnamomum verum tree, which is native to Sri Lanka. It is light brown, fragile, and has thin, paper-like layers. Its flavor is lighter and more delicate than cassia, with subtle sweet, citrus, and floral notes. Most importantly, it contains significantly less coumarin; as little as 0.004%, depending on the grade.
CEYLON CINNAMON GRADES
Ceylon cinnamon is divided into 10 grades, from ALBA (the highest) to Cinnamon Powder (the lowest). The full list of grades is: ALBA, C5 Special, C5, C4, M5, M4, H1, Quillings 01, Quillings 02, and Cinnamon Powder.
ALBA, the rarest and most expensive grade, accounts for less than 1% of Sri Lanka's total cinnamon harvest. It is recognizable by its pencil-thin quills and a delicate, honey-like sweetness with notes of citrus and vanilla, lacking the bitterness found in lower grades. Made from the thinnest inner bark layers, ALBA is prized for its refined aroma and has exceptionally low coumarin levels, making it the safest choice for daily consumption. Harvesting and hand-rolling these quills is a highly skilled process. A worker might produce only 7 ounces of ALBA grade per day, compared to 11 pounds for lower grades.
Due to its rarity, ALBA grade cinnamon is sometimes diluted with lower-grade bark. To ensure you're getting an authentic product, it's important to choose a trusted brand.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT FORM
When buying Ceylon cinnamon, choose sticks instead of pre-ground powder. This ensures purity, as many powders contain fillers like Cassia cinnamon, sawdust, or anti-caking agents. Stick-form Ceylon cinnamon is versatile; you can brew it as loose-leaf tea or grind it fresh as needed. Grinding it yourself also preserves its aroma, which is quickly lost in pre-ground versions.
ORGANIC VS. CONVENTIONAL
Organic cinnamon sticks have a shorter shelf life than conventional options because they aren't treated with sulfur, a preservative. A product can still be organic even if the word "organic" isn't on the front of the package. New FDA regulations require an additional U.S. certification to label the front of a package as "organic," which adds costs for the consumer. Always check the ingredient list to confirm if a product is certified organic in its country of origin.
LEAD CONTAMINATION
Many cinnamon products on the market, including both cassia and Ceylon varieties, test positive for lead. The contamination levels can vary, originating from the soil or occurring during processing and handling. Ceylon cinnamon sticks tend to have lower lead levels than powdered forms. If possible, try to access testing information for any cinnamon you purchase.
CEYLON CINNAMON BENEFITS
For thousands of years, Ceylon cinnamon has been used for medicinal purposes. Modern studies suggest it offers numerous benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. It may also aid digestion, support cardiovascular health, help lower cholesterol, and assist in managing blood sugar levels, making it popular for those with type 2 diabetes.
Before consuming cinnamon daily, it's important to understand your options. High doses of coumarin, a compound found in many cinnamon varieties, can cause liver damage. Ceylon cinnamon is recommended for regular use over cassia cinnamon because it has a much lower coumarin content. While lower-grade Ceylon cinnamon is fine for occasional cooking and baking, ALBA grade Ceylon cinnamon is the safest choice for daily consumption, such as in tea.
ALBA Ceylon cinnamon cannot cure diabetes, but it can help regulate blood sugar, similar to modern medicines like metformin but with minimal side effects. Reversing diabetes requires significant lifestyle changes, and ALBA Ceylon cinnamon can make management easier. An added benefit of incorporating ALBA Ceylon cinnamon into your diet is its potential to help with other chronic conditions, such as inflammation. However, combining Ceylon cinnamon with diabetes medications like metformin can cause dangerously low blood sugar levels, so it is not recommended. Always consult your doctor and monitor your body's response closely.