C
innamon provides a warm, sweet-spicy base with woody, round depth. The scent is recognizably soft and comforting, with tones reminiscent of warm spices and sunny wood. In infusions, cinnamon brings immediate warmth that makes blends accessible and adds natural sweetness without sugars or excess.
During steeping, the aromatic oils are released and an infusion with a soft, enveloping spiciness is created. Cinnamon rounds off sharp elements and gives fruity and floral botanicals a warm bedding. The herb adds structure and a long, soft aftertaste, ideal for blends seeking comfort and depth.
Habitat & Origin
Cinnamon comes from various Cinnamomum species that grow in the tropical hill regions of Sri Lanka, Southern India, and Indonesia. The trees love warm, humid air and loam-rich soils with plenty of organic matter. For high-quality cinnamon, the inner bark is harvested from young shoots that are carefully cut off, after which the outer bark layer is removed. The inner bark curls naturally into thin quills during drying. Artisanal drying, often in shady areas with good air circulation, ensures a soft, sweet-woody scent with warm spice depth. At Maison Tisane, we select light, finely layered quills with a pure, warm nose—never sharp, never dusty—so the infusion remains round and inviting.
Active compounds
Cinnamon contains aromatic compounds such as cinnamaldehyde and eugenol that form the characteristic sweet-woody warmth. Soft spice tones and light bitters provide depth and a round, enveloping spiciness. In infusions, cinnamon acts as a warm anchor: soft, inviting, and elegantly interwoven with both fruity and floral components.
Ayurvedic approach
Cinnamon belongs in Ayurveda to the warm, aromatic barks that stabilize Vata and set Kapha in motion; Pitta is approached with care due to the fiery signature. In ancient trading cities, cinnamon was known as 'king's herb', a spice whose scent symbolized wealth and hospitality. Its sweet-woody warmth was associated with winter rituals and togetherness. Energetically, cinnamon feels like glowing embers under sand: deep, warming, and ordering.
Thermal energy (Virya)
heating
Pitta
Increasing
IncreasingBalancing
Effect: light increasing
Vata
Balancing
IncreasingBalancing
Effect: light balancing
Kapha
Balancing
IncreasingBalancing
Effect: strong balancing
Flavour profile & Blending
Intensity
Strong
Accessibility
Accessible
Character
spicy, lingering, sharp, sweet
Role in the blend
Strong herb (2.5–5%): contributes noticeably to the flavour profile and should be dosed with care.
The indicated percentage refers to the approximate weight proportion of this herb within the total blend, but it can of course be adjusted to give the herb a more dominant or more subtle role.
Cinnamon supports by laying a warm, sweet-woody foundation that immediately gives blends depth and comfort. It softens powerful spices like ginger, clove, and cardamom and gives rooibos or chicory root a luxurious, baked impression. With apple pieces and orange peel, a classic, almost dessert-like composition is created, while cinnamon gives the floral softness of chamomile and linden blossom more structure. In chai-like mixtures, cinnamon acts as the central axis around which citrus, roots, and sweet roots like licorice elegantly circle.
Cinnamon is a natural partner for apple pie, crumble, cinnamon rolls, rice pudding, stewed pear, and desserts with caramel or vanilla. The warm spiciness deepens baked aromas and gives sweetness a mature edge. In savory dishes, cinnamon supports stews with root vegetables, pumpkin, or lentils, and in small doses, it can give tomato sauces and roasted eggplant more sunny complexity.
More flavour details
Selection guide (aroma directions)
Intensity
8
Freshness
1
Citrus
1
Fruity
2
Floral
2
Spicy / Herbal
9
Earthy / Woody
4
Food pairing (structure)
Sweetness
5
Sourness
0
Bitterness
2
Astringency
3
Body
4
Aftertaste length
8
Sharpness / Pungency
7
Blending notes: resinous (3/10), toasty (3/10)
Precautions
A warm hug in your mug. Cassia contains coumarin; moderate if you have a sensitive liver.
Experience Cinnamon bark
Discover the versatility of this botanical in our blends, or use it as the foundation for your own creation in our Blendstudio.
