National Cinnamon Day Date in the current year: November 1, 2024

Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several evergreen aromatic tree species belonging to the genus Cinnamomum, which are native to tropical and subtropical regions of East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australasia, and Oceania.

“True” cinnamon is produced from the bark of Ceylon cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum verum) that is native to Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. It has a more subtle flavor than other cinnamon varieties, but it is also more expensive. Most of commercially produced cinnamon is derived from other species, more correctly referred to as cassia: Indonesian cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii), Chinese cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia), Saigon cinnamon (Cinnamomum loureiroi), and Malabar cinnamon (Cinnamomum citriodorum).

Cinnamon has been known to humanity since ancient times. There is evidence of it being imported to ancient Egypt, although it was most likely cassia from China rather than “true” cinnamon from Sri Lanka. Egyptians used cassia and cinnamon to embalm mummies and to make kyphi, a compound incense used for medical and religious purposes.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the source of cinnamon was a mystery to the Western world and a closely guarded trade secret. The spice became more common during the Age of Discovery. The Dutch West India Company began to cultivate its own cinnamon trees in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in the mid-17th century, and the British East India Company established control over Ceylon in the late 18th century, taking over the cinnamon trade.

Today, cinnamon is one of the most popular spices in the world. The world’s largest producers of cinnamon are Indonesia, China, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. Although many people primarily associate its warm and sweet aroma with baking and hot drinks, cinnamon is a very versatile spice can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. For example, it is often added to chicken and lamb dishes in Middle Eastern cuisine. Cinnamon pairs well with other spices such as anise, cardamom, clove, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, ginger, mace, mint, nutmeg, pepper, and turmeric.

National Cinnamon Day was created in 2019 by McCormick Consumer, a major manufacturer of herbs, spices, blends, extracts, marinades, and sauces, to celebrate the versatility of this amazing spice and, of course, to promote the brand’s cinnamon and cinnamon-flavored products, such as ground cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, and cinnamon sugar.

According to McCormick, cinnamon is the hardest working spice of the holiday season, so it is not surprising that National Cinnamon Day is celebrated on November 1 to kick off the season. Of course, the best way to celebrate it is to cook one of your favorite holiday classics that calls for cinnamon, be it apple pie, cinnamon rolls, eggnog, mulled cider, pumpkin pie, snickerdoodles, or sweet potato casserole. And don’t forget to spread the word about the holiday with the hashtags #NationalCinnamonDay and #CinnamonSeason.