Cinnamon is a yummy spice that comes from the bark of a special tree that grows in warm, tropical places like Sri Lanka and Indonesia! Workers carefully peel thin layers of bark off the tree branches, and as the bark dries in the sun, it curls up into the little rolls we know as cinnamon sticks. The cool thing is that the tree does not get hurt because it grows new bark right back, kind of like how your skin heals after a scratch. People have been using cinnamon for thousands of years, and it used to be so rare and special that it was worth more than gold!
Cinnamon has a warm, sweet smell that makes your whole kitchen smell amazing. We love to sprinkle it on treats like cinnamon rolls, applesauce, cookies, and on top of hot cocoa to make them taste extra delicious. But cinnamon is not just for yummy food. Long ago, ancient Egyptians used cinnamon to make perfume, and some people even believed it had magical powers! There are actually two main types of cinnamon trees, and the spice comes in both stick and powder form. Next time you smell cinnamon, remember that wonderful flavor traveled all the way from a tropical tree far away!
