Cinnamon boasts a rich history and is a cherished ingredient in various Mauritian dishes. Known for its warm, sweet, and slightly spicy flavour, cinnamon enhances both food and drinks, bringing a unique touch to your culinary creations.

Origin:

As mentioned in “Essential spices in Mauritian Cuisines”, spices were brought by the Dutch or British when they took possession of the island. Cinnamon has a longer history; it was discovered and used by Egyptians for their embalming processes and to add flavour in their food.

Arab traders were among the first to bring cinnamon to Europe. They closely guarded the source of their spices to maintain their monopoly and spread various myths about its origins to protect their trade routes. During the Middle Ages, cinnamon became highly prized in Europe, often used by the wealthy for its flavour and preservative qualities. It was considered a status symbol and used in both culinary and medicinal applications.

Culinary Applications:

In this section we will look at various salty or sweet dishes that you can incorporate Cinnamon. Firstly, we have greo during the Cavadee, a Mauritian Religious festival in which some people prepare this as a sweet treat. It is easy to prepare and ready in approximately 6-10 min, it contains sugar, spices such as Cinnamon, Cardamon, and if you like to eat almonds and dried raisins you can add it in the greo recipe it will give texture and enhance the taste.

Secondly, it can be used in Biryani since Mauritius is a Multicultural island. Mauritians had to learn how to cook this amazing dish, the mix and blend of spices in this recipe is extraordinary, the taste cannot be explained, it is light, and slightly spicy. If you have never taste it is time to make it at home.

Other Uses:

Cinnamon has other uses apart from being used in Culinary dishes, this spice holds medicinal properties that prove to be beneficial for the health of human beings. In Mauritius Cinnamon can be used to alleviate indigestion or when you catch a flu it is a good natural remedy that can be used to relieve sore throat or mild coughs, you can incorporate it in tea, or other infusion.

Conclusion:

To conclude, cinnamon has a great significance in our lives. You can use it to add a slight touch of spice and sweetness in your dishes, or use it as a natural remedy to cure certain illnesses. Cinnamon reminds us of its presence in our daily lives and cultural history.