Cinnamon
We all know cinnamon in the form of an aromatic seasoning for buns, coffee and other sweets, which, more often than not, are sold in the form of powder or such rolled brown sticks with a characteristic aroma (an unusual smell of cinnamon is caused by essential oil (up to 1.5%), contains). So what does cinnamon really look like? Can it be used only as a seasoning or does it have other useful, and maybe even healing, properties? This is what we have to learn.
Cinnamon or Cinnamon Ceylon is an evergreen tree of the Laurel family. Cinnamon is also called the dried bark of a tree, which is widely used as a spice. Surely you will think that the fruits of cinnamon are ground and get a fragrant spice, but this is not so. Fruits of cinnamon in the form of purple berries with a diameter of 1 centimeter do not get to us on the table. Cinnamon is grown up to two years, then cut to the very root. The next year there are about a dozen young shoots. From these very shoots, the bark is cut, which is then dried. Further, only the thinnest layer of the inner crust is used. In turn, the outer layer is removed, leaving as a reminder of itself a kind of cinnamon strips, which are twisted into long tubes. After drying, these very tubes, cut into pieces up to 10 cm in length, are finally available for sale.
Cinnamon is an overseas plant, because it grows in Sri Lanka, but it can be found in the Seychelles and in tropical Asia. The highest quality cinnamon comes directly from Sri Lanka, but the plant itself is grown also in Brazil, Vietnam, Egypt and Madagascar. This cinnamon differs from other species with a pleasant aroma and sweet, according to sensations - a warm taste, because it is produced from a very thin and at the same time soft brownish bark. In addition to real cinnamon, there is also a "fake" cinnamon in nature, a related plant - cassia, which is often called cinnamon when sold. This fake is called Indonesian or really fake. Unlike real cinnamon, the whole bark is used to make cassia, not just its thin inner part. Many packages with the inscription "cinnamon", which can be found in almost all large stores, is a cassia. These two pieces of bark are completely different, in appearance, in chemical composition and in their properties. If you check the bark on the starch (I drop it on it), then the real cinnamon will give a completely unnoticeable reaction, at the same time, cassia will acquire a very bright dark blue color. Due to differences in the chemical properties of the bark, I would like to voice some fairly serious data. Cheap cassia from China, Vietnam or Indonesia contains a dangerous for human health coumarin, which in this cinnamon is contained in a very small extent. According to a number of studies conducted abroad, only 4 cinnamon cookies are enough for children to get a dose of coumarin, which is dangerous for health. Adults can be in mortal danger, eating - 8 cookies. In general, the choice of this spice should be approached wisely. In addition to these two species on the market can be found: malabar and spicy cinnamon (cinnamon).
Let us dwell a little more on the types of cinnamon.
- Ceylon cinnamon or cinnamon is a noble cinnamon .. The quality is better than all other species .. Ceylon cinnamon has a delicate, delicate aroma ..
- Chinese cinnamon or Indian, cassia. We started to grow it in Southern China. The taste is more sharp than that of Ceylon.
- Malabar cinnamon first began to grow in India. It differs from the two previous varieties with appearance and taste.
- Cinnamon or spicy cinnamon, growing in the Moluccas and in Indonesia. She has a very sharp cinnamon smell.
It is also necessary to mention a bit about the history of this amazing plant. Cinnamon became known even in times of extreme antiquity, when it was highly valued among the ancient peoples, why it was presented as a gift to kings, monarchs and other rich people. Cinnamon was transported from China to Ancient Egypt before the 2nd millennium BC. In the Middle Ages, the legends of the legend went about the origin of cinnamon. Arab merchants, for example, said that they abducted cinnamon from strange birds, fought for it with sea monsters. Only at the end of the 15th century the Portuguese merchants opened Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and, therefore, established the supply and production of cinnamon, whose history of origin ceased to be a mystery to the entire Western world. At this time, cinnamon trees began to grow not only in their homeland, but also in other places. Available then the cassia began to be sold in a more free access, and coffee and other tea products began to slowly displace popular spices.
In addition to the eventful history, cinnamon has various properties, which will be discussed later. As mentioned earlier, cinnamon is widely used as a spice to sweet dishes and some drinks, can also be used in spicy lamb and chicken dishes. Cinnamon has a high antioxidant effect, and its essential oil has strong antimicrobial properties. It can disinfect products that quickly deteriorate, so it can be added to any dish of this kind. This group includes freshly squeezed juices, which need to be drunk within a few hours after the squeeze. Adding cinnamon to such a drink, not only does not allow the appearance of harmful microbes, but also due to its action, will help activate the brain and improve your memory. It turns out a perfect combination of a pleasant element with a useful one. Also, cinnamon oil is used in perfumery to add oriental notes to appropriate perfumes.
Today we know about other medicinal properties that have been studied in more detail. These include: antimicrobial, antiseptic, diuretic, purifying and antipyretic medicinal properties of cinnamon. For example, cinnamon oil can be used as a stimulant or as a sedative, because due to the content of special components in it, it can bring peace of mind or vice versa the desire for active activity. In addition to the listed medicinal properties, cinnamon fights against cholesterol, contributing to the reduction of blood clots, thanks to the presence of calcium, which can serve as a good cancer prevention. Cinnamon is also used for diseases of the stomach and intestines - the fibers that are contained in it, help to actively remove harmful salts, and improve the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Perhaps even its use as a so-called "strengthener" of the digestive system ", which allows to improve appetite and stimulate the normal production of gastric juice. As recent studies have shown, cinnamon can reduce blood sugar levels and even fight with type 2 diabetes. This surprising property is due to the presence of a substance that is recognized by the body as insulin, which can significantly reduce the blood sugar level in a diabetic patient. A very effective cure is cinnamon for colds due to its bactericidal properties. You can drink ginger tea with cinnamon, which will help with the appearance of cold symptoms, wet cough, and even lower body temperature (action like that of raspberry tea). In eastern countries, the use of cinnamon is common for the treatment of hoarseness of the voice, as well as for liver diseases. To this end, the inhabitants of these countries mix cinnamon with pomegranate and black pepper. As it turned out, the stems of the plant are still used, but not for cooking, but for neutralizing hepatic and renal colic.
The healing properties of cinnamon, prepared in the form of alcohol tincture, help kill pathogens and even resist the development of tubercle bacilli. Cinnamon also helps with conjunctivitis, relieves cataracts, can cure some ulcers, tumors, besides it is an antidote when bitten by some insects and even snakes. Cinnamon is useful for blood circulation, especially for people who have suffered a stroke or people with coronary heart disease. With sclerosis and changes in the mental state in the elderly, cinnamon will facilitate the aging of cells and somewhat slow it down. In addition, the use of cinnamon will be useful for people with a mobile psyche, as it soothes, relieves nervous tension and improves the mental state of a person as a whole. Steam inhalation of cinnamon with sage will help with colds, and rinsing - with toothache or sore throat. Infusion of cinnamon will have a beneficial effect on people suffering from long illnesses, it will be good for the recovery of women after childbirth, will help with cystitis, delay of monthly, liver diseases.
A small amount of cinnamon will help with overeating. If you take a stick of cinnamon and pour a glass of boiled water, then insist for half an hour, get out cinnamon from there, then necessarily add 1 tbsp. spoon of honey. Drink this magic drink in small sips, strictly after a meal. This recipe is considered in the east as a universal remedy for all diseases. We were convinced that cinnamon has a truly limitless amount of medicinal properties, so I would like to give some examples of recipes that will be useful to any woman.
Recipe with cinnamon
Soon spring is approaching, it's time to open dresses, short skirts, which means it's time to show your slender figure. The recipe with cinnamon for weight loss is this: every morning for half an hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and the night before going to bed, you need to drink brewed cinnamon with honey added, pre-brewed on the previous day. If you take this drink, you must definitely reduce weight even in the most immense person, because when honey interacts with cinnamon bacteria are excreted from the body, a purifying effect occurs, which helps not to store fat. Thanks to this miracle drink, harmful bacteria are killed that slow down the digestion of a person. Another recipe that will be useful to adults and even children - school children, who are very tired during their studies. As was proved by American scientists, the daily use of a spoon of honey with the addition of cinnamon in a glass of water, in the morning on an empty stomach and after noon, helps to normalize all vital functions of the body and stop the decline of forces that so often happens after exhausting work, mental and physical. The combination of honey and cinnamon can support your immunity, exhausted in the long and cold winter, because the constant intake of this mixture strengthens the work of blood cells, which helps them to effectively combat bacterial and viral diseases. For women, it is also very important the condition of her hair, their availability, hair style, volume, etc. To counteract hair loss and improve their growth, several times a week to do the following mask: heated olive oil, st.lozhka honey, a teaspoon of cinnamon to apply to the roots hair before washing - for 15 minutes. Then rinse hair with warm water. One of the most common problems - it's pimples, but they can be controlled with the help of medicinal properties of cinnamon. You need to prepare a kind of pasta from 3 tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon. Lubricate the affected area of the skin before dandruff and always rinse this paste in the morning with warm water, for 2 weeks all pimples will go away.
Toothache?
Which of us did not have a toothache? I think that every one of us faced this problem at least once in our life. You will certainly be helped by a mixture of 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 5 teaspoons of honey applied to the sick tooth. This bandage can be performed 3 times a day, until the pain is completely eliminated. And, of course, the most important thing is that every woman wants to prolong her youth and be the owner of a young and radiant skin. To do this, you should regularly take honey with cinnamon -1l cinnamon, brewed in 3 glasses of water and chilled + 4 liters of honey. Drink 1/4 cup 3-4 times a day. This recipe allows you to keep your skin fresh, soft and delays aging.
In addition to these, important in my opinion, recipes for women, there are others, based mainly on a mixture of honey and cinnamon, but in different proportions. It is also necessary to note some serious diseases and mild ailments that can be prevented and cured with cinnamon. Cinnamon helps and cures: diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, hearing loss, a number of gynecological diseases, helps with flu and cold, treats type 2 diabetes and cancer, helps with neuroses and insomnia, improves the functioning of the heart, brain; relieves acne, skin infections reduces cholesterol in the blood, increases immunity, treats bladder inflammation, toothache, helps with hair loss, with insect bites, etc.
All diseases that are treated with cinnamon and not counted. It really is a magical plant. But do not treat it like a panacea. If you have some kind of disease, you first need to consult with your doctor and cinnamon (as a kind of traditional medicine) can be combined with medical treatment, the main thing - do not hurt yourself. As with every medicine, this plant has your contraindications: cinnamon can not be used during pregnancy, tk. it can provoke a miscarriage; an overdose of cinnamon can cause an excited state, convulsions, rapid heartbeat; also it is necessary to apply cautiously with cinnamon to people with high blood pressure - hypertensive people, as well as people - allergies.
And one more very important point: cinnamon is best treated with the use of true cinnamon from Sri Lanka, and not a cassia that is sold everywhere. Of course, real cinnamon, cinnamon oil is more expensive, but then you can be calm for your health and the health of people close to you.
Vanilla
Vanilla or in Latin Vanílla is a perennial plant belonging to the family of orchids. The fruits of this plant since ancient times are used as spices.
Vanilla comes from Central America. It is known that it was widely used by the Aztecs long before the Europeans arrived on the continent. Christopher Columbus is considered the first European to recognize the taste of vanilla. With hot chocolate and vanilla, the aborigines treated Columbus, expressing their respect to him. It is believed that this happened in 1502, and this year can be considered the beginning of the procession of vanilla on the planet.
In the holds of the ships of the first travelers to America vanilla reached first to Spain, and a little later it became known in Italy and Austria. The rest of Europe tried this fragrant spice much later, in the early 19th century. Today vanilla is produced by many countries, among them the largest producers are Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico, the USA, China, etc.
In the first place in quality is the vanilla produced in Mexico. The quality of vanilla is determined by the length of the pod, and the price also depends on it. The longer the vanilla pod, the higher it is valued.
Vanilla is collected by hand, without the aid of any technique. The collected vanilla fruits are not a ready-made product and in order to get such a spicy favorite in the whole world, it is necessary to treat them in a special way. The process of processing vanilla is quite complex and contains many subtleties. First, the vanilla pods are dipped in hot water for 20-25 seconds, then wrapped in woolen cloths and left to knock on the premises, after that for a whole month, day after day the pods are left in the sun for a strictly defined period of time. Only with strict adherence to technology, vanilla will acquire its beautiful brown color and a persistent sweetish smell. Finished pods have a slightly oily surface and twisted edges, the length of vanilla sticks is usually about 20-30 centimeters.
The use of vanilla in cooking
Until recently, only a rich layer of society could afford to enjoy vanilla. The production of vanilla is laborious enough and takes a lot of time, which makes it one of the most expensive spices. The situation with vanilla cardinally changed the appearance of vanillin, a synthetic substance, which is now used everywhere. Today, the smell of vanilla is known to almost everyone and only for the preparation of the most refined and expensive dishes use natural vanilla.
The use of vanilla in cooking is very diverse. It is added to baked pastry, cookies, cakes. Season with vanilla creams, glaze, add to chocolate, cocoa, ice cream and many other sweets.
Vanilla is valued not only for its unique flavor, added to the vanilla dish enhances its own taste and makes it more vivid. That is why vanilla is added not only to sweet dishes, sometimes mention of vanilla can be found in recipes for salads, fish or even meat dishes.
The best flavor of vanilla decorates the liquid, so natural vanilla is often used in various syrups, jelly and creams. Very often, vanilla flavored and alcoholic beverages.
Vanilla is a very strong seasoning, it has a rich sugary smell, in a large concentration of vanilla begins to be bitter, so it should be used in very small quantities.
Vanilla is also widely used in cosmetology. Vanilla fragrance is present in a large number of perfume products, aromatic oils with notes of vanilla are produced. Often vanilla is used in the manufacture of soap and shampoos. Vanilla has a beneficial effect on the skin, helps with irritation, relieves dryness and peeling. Cream with the addition of vanilla will make the skin more elastic and elastic.
The healing properties of vanilla
Vanilla has a toning and soothing effect. He gives a sense of harmony, joy and serenity. Left in the bedroom, a vanilla stick will relieve insomnia, help relax and find peace. Vanilla helps to relieve fatigue, relieves stress and depression.
The use of vanilla in cooking is not only an aesthetic, but also a practical function. Vanilla improves appetite, has a beneficial effect on digestion, normalizes the work of the intestines. It can help to eliminate the harmful effects of alcohol and relieve pain during menstruation.
It is also believed that vanilla has a beneficial effect on potency, and in men and women equally. Natural vanilla is widely used in folk medicine, and in medicinal preparations, vanilla is used as a natural flavor.
Now you know how important cinnamon and vanilla are, the useful properties of which will find a worthy use in every family!