The next time you sprinkle cinnamon over your oats or milk tart, pause for a moment. That comforting, fragrant spice in your hand has travelled through centuries and across oceans to reach your kitchen in South Africa.

Where Cinnamon Comes From

Cinnamon has its roots in the tropical forests of Sri Lanka, the Malabar Coast of India, and Myanmar. The cinnamon tree has glossy leaves and small white flowers, but the magic is in the bark.

A Legendary History

In the Middle Ages, merchants told stories about harvesting cinnamon from bird nests on the edges of cliffs in Arabia, but fortunately, the real process is much simpler. Harvesters carefully peel the inner bark from young shoots, then roll it into quills. Once dried, the sticks curl up and become a deep golden-brown.

In ancient Egypt, people believed cinnamon had the power to preserve not just bodies, but the essence of life itself, so it became a sacred element of the embalming process. In the Roman Empire, spices were a status symbol and a sign of luxury, and the fragrance alone indicated wealth. By the 1600s, cinnamon was big business. The Dutch East India Company made it their most profitable spice, and its value briefly matched gold’s!

Cinnamon in Our Kitchens Today

These days, cinnamon has found its place in our everyday lives, but it hasn’t lost any of its luxurious appeal. It’s a staple in kitchens around the world, for its flavour and health benefits. Whether you’re baking spiced vetkoek, stewing fruit, or seasoning a bobotie, cinnamon brings a sweet woody flavour with a citrusy note.

Bring it Home

Try our Yellow Rice with Raisins recipe, where this spice truly shines! It’s full of flavour, simple to make, and brings that unmistakable home-cooked warmth to the table.

Cinnamon the Amapelepele way

At Amapelepele, we’re proud to be part of cinnamon’s story. We carefully source high-quality, aromatic cinnamon so that every pinch brings you the rich legacy of this remarkable spice. Our cinnamon powder is finely ground, aromatic, and free from clumps. It stands out for its sweet, bold fragrance and silky texture, a clear sign of its freshness and purity.

From the forests where it grows to your kitchen table, cinnamon has been treasured for thousands of years, and thanks to Amapelepele, it’s part of your story too.

Bring the warmth of cinnamon home.