Cinnamon
Saffron
Turmeric
Sage
Cinnamon
Name your favorite use
Cinnamon
Ancient use
Egyptians = embalming, cosmetics
Egyptians imported 2,000 BC
Arabs controlled
keep as a secret
Legendary phoenix built nest
Bible references:
Moses – ingredient of holy oil
Proverbs – lover’s bed perfume
Song of Solomon - describe beloved
incense in Tabernacle
Very expensive
One year wages for commoner
Nero 65 AD burned year’s worth
of city’s supply for his wife’s pyre
Portuguese
Dutch
English
decline
1518
1638
1796
True vs. Cassia
True or Ceylon cinnamon
Cinnamonum verum
Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Sri Lanka indigenous
80-90% world
Cassia cinnamon
Cinnamomum iners
native to Burma
C. loureiroi
Saigon cinnamon
Cinnamon quills
80 nutrients
manganese
fiber
iron
calcium
Cinnamaldehyde
essential oil
Food preservative
antimicrobial
antifungal
Memory loss
gum before test
more focus
faster reflexes
better scores
Medical uses
Type II Diabetes
1 g/day (1/4 tsp.)
20% drop in sugar
Caution!
Coumarin
may cause liver problems
History
Scent, purify temples Greece
Bath water Romans
Cleopatra
Medieval
dye
Food
yellow
Rice dishes
Cakes
Lussekatter
Saint Santa Lucia
Dec. 13, saffron bread
Stigma of blue crocus
Most expensive spice
100,000 flowers/pound
$5,000/pound
Harvesting saffron
Harvesting saffron in Iran
90% produced in Iran
220 tons/year
Packaging saffron
Medical Use
a. Depression
15 mg/day
as effective as Prozac
Works on serotonin, dopamine,
norepinephrine
Boost and stabilize mood
b. Athersclerosis
100 mg/day
decrease cholesterol
c. Alzheimer’s
30 mg/day. Slows progress
d. Cancer, Parkinson’s, MS
still in trials, cell or animal
Turmeric
Leading crusader against disease
Perennial
Curcuma aromatica
rhizome
Curcumin
antioxidant
anti-inflammatory
Protects all organs
Antacid
Bandages – speed healing
Headache – in Tylenol
Acne- topical paste
Decongestant
Cancer
Alzheimer’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease
Arthritis
Heart Disease and Stroke
Skin
Fat buster
Etc.
How much?
Indians eat 1 tsp/day in 3 meals
Yellow
American cheese
Mustard
Butter and margarine
Chicken broth
Bread-and-butter pickles
Yellow cake
Popcorn
Best if cooked
stir fry
rice dishes
vegetables
Careful – stains counters, clothes
Ginger
The best for nausea
Motion sicknes
Morning sickness
Chemotherapy
Anesthesia
rhizome
50% grown
In India
Queen Elizabeth I
gave to dinner
guests
German tradition
Gingersnaps
Kimchi
Jamaican jerk
Curries
Ginger ale
Ginger tea