More than a Holiday Spice
Sprinkled on cookies, rolled into breakfast buns, and an essential part of culinary cuisine, cinnamon is one of the most important spices in the world. While you may associate it with your holiday shopping, the sweet and dusty cinnamon powder is actually the second most popular spice in the world following on the heels of black pepper. For thousands of years, cinnamon has been used across all the cultures – from the kitchens of Ancient Egypt to witchcraft in Medieval Europe and in old Ayurvedic medicine too.
Cinnamon is sweetly aromatic and delicately spiced and not only does it come with swathes of history and modern-day holiday tradition, but it is packed with health benefits too. This prized spice is quite the catch as you will find out when we delve deeper into all the cinnamon tea benefits so you can curl up and get cozy.
What is Cinnamon Tea?
Cinnamon Tea is a herbal tisane, where cinnamon bark is infused in hot water to create a tea. It is made from the bark of the cinnamon tree and can also be ground down into a powder.
For many people, the taste of cinnamon is sweet and earthy and comes with a delicate dose of wood. It has a truly beautiful aroma (one that we always associate with Christmas in the United States). When brewed in tea it brings a golden color and a warming effect that seeps into the body from tip to toe.
The cinnamon plant is native to Sri Lanka although you can also find another style of the cinnamon tree over in Vietnam known as Saigon Cinnamon. The Sri Lankan cinnamon is known as Ceylon cinnamon or true cinnamon. The Vietnamese variety is often called Cassia Cinnamon. In truth, they are pretty similar but in the western world, Ceylon cinnamon is considered to be the more sought after of the two and is also harder to come by.
The bark is harvested from the inside of the tree. This bark curls during the drying process which creates the cinnamon sticks. To make the tea, these sticks are sometimes soaked in water or they can be crushed to a powder or turned into an extract. You can also make cinnamon tea from black tea leaves (if you want the caffeine) and added spices. It’s common for cinnamon to be found as a flavor blended into other teas such as chai tea or even mixed in with ginger tea.
The Health Benefits of Cinnamon Tea
Warming every corner of your being, cinnamon tea comes with a whole heap of health benefits. This tea is loaded with goodness and has played an essential role in Chinese herbalism for centuries. Cinnamon is believed to improve a whole host of health issues and can help support healthy circulation, boost your respiratory system, and even bring effective pain management. Let’s jump right in and unravel all the amazing benefits that a cup of cinnamon tea can bring to you…
1) Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease
Keep your heart beating strong and reduce the risks of heart disease all by infusing a cup with the humble and heavenly cinnamon stick. This tough little bark has been proven to have a positive effect on your overall health and specifically has also been checked and studied to see if it lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure. It does! By lowering the LDL cholesterol (the bad stuff) and boosting the HDL cholesterol (the good stuff), you are reducing your risk of having a heart attack or stroke or developing heart disease.
2) Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
If you are someone who needs to manage your blood sugar levels because of a health condition or type 2 diabetes, then sipping on cinnamon tea could be just the daily remedy you need to get your glucose levels under control. Studies have found that regular cinnamon supplements can increase insulin sensitivity for at least 12 hours. The positive effect of lower blood sugar levels leads to better management of diabetes and less risk of complications.
3) Gives Tons of Antioxidants
As part of ayurvedic medicine, it comes as no surprise to hear that cinnamon shimmers with antioxidants. This humble strip of bark or pinch of powder packs quite the punch. Cinnamon is rich in polyphenols, one of the top antioxidants that helps to fight oxidation and fend off free radicals. These free radicals can wreak havoc in the body, causing everything from premature aging to long-term disease. Of all the spices studied, cinnamon was found to be one of the top players when it comes to polyphenol level.
4) Improves Brain Function
For those who want to keep their mind sharp, consuming cinnamon tea can also help. This brew makes sure your brain doesn’t skip a beat by helping protect from neurological issues like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Studies found that Ceylon cinnamon helped stop the protein of Tau from making an appearance in the body. Tau can be a contributing factor to brain issues, as they are proteins that can become defective and mess up chemical signals in the mind.
5) Supports Weight Loss
Naturally sweet and associated with Christmas treats, you wouldn’t think that cinnamon could be such a great asset for those who are at risk of obesity and need to lose weight. But contrary to belief, cinnamon can actually help in the battle against weight loss. There have been a whole host of studies conducted and results have shown that cinnamon can help with fat loss especially around the waist. However, it is worth remembering that these studies would have been conducted with strict calorie control so it may not translate as simply in everyday life.
6) Calms Stomach Issues
Give your digestive system exactly what it needs with the calming kiss of cinnamon. This gentle spice can stir up your gastro juices and get your system in finetuned flow. Those who take cinnamon supplements are believed to suffer less with stomach issues like bloating or gas, constipation, and inflammation due to the effective benefits that cinnamon brings. If you suffer from IBS or just want to get your digestive house in order, a cup of cinnamon tea brings instant relief.
7) Powerful Anti-inflammatory Properties
A study found that Ceylon cinnamon was one of the top foods boasting incredibly high anti-inflammatory properties. Cutting down the risk of inflammation can help your body in a whole host of ways. Not only will it reduce the risks of blood clots and other serious ailments like chronic diseases but it also reduces pain and swelling.
8) Improves the Immune System
Give your immune system a mighty boost all by drinking cinnamon tea on a regular basis. This sweet-scented spice is a dab hand at fending off pathogens and is known for its ability to reduce the growth and spread of all kinds of bacteria from salmonella to the flu.
9) Lowers Risk of Cancer
The big C is forever a dreaded word when it comes to health and wellness. There have been plenty of studies on cinnamons impact when it comes to reducing the risk of cancer and the research all seems to point in the right direction. While the evidence is collected via lab and animal studies, the results do show that cinnamon helps blood vessels to grow in tumors, effectively cutting down on tumor growth.
10) Works as an Antibacterial & Antifungal
Containing the essential ingredient of cinnamaldehyde, cinnamon is also known to actively fight all kinds of bacteria and fungi. In fact, it's so well-known as being a legend in fending off bacteria that cinnamon oil and cinnamon extract is often extracted and used as an ingredient in fungal fighting remedies especially for infections in the respiratory tract. Cinnamon also helps fight bad breath and cuts down on tooth decay risks too.
11) Reduces Cold Symptoms
Antiviral, antifungal, rich in antibacterial properties, and antiseptic, cinnamon tea truly gets to work on clearing out those savage cold and flu symptoms and can get your body back to its full bloom of health in no time. As the antioxidant activity in cinnamon gets to work neutralizing and removing pathogens, it gives your immunity an awesome boost, speeding up recovery time. Cinnamon is also a warming spice that can help clear out your sinuses and hot tea is awesome at soothing sore throats too.
12) Diminish Menstrual Complications
If you are someone who spends every month curled into the fetal position and clutching your stomach, then cinnamon tea can be the remedy you have been looking for. This spicy bright brew has been studied in helping ease menstrual symptoms such as PMS and pain. In a study, it was found that women who took 3 grams of cinnamon a day for the first 3 days of their period suffered less pain than those in the placebo group. So next time your period is due then be sure to stock up on cinnamon.
13) Revamps Skin Health
Get glowing youthful skin all by saying bottoms up as you raise a cup of cinnamon tea. This delicate spice is packed with antioxidants which fight free radicals and reduce the risks associated with the premature signs of aging. As those free radicals get kicked out, cinnamon also encourages healthy blood flow which brings a flush of vibrancy to your skin as it helps encourage new cell turnover. All this combined with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties means that you can enjoy healthy harmonious skin simply by sipping cinnamon.
14) Strengthens Hair
Another added benefit of cinnamons ability to encourage healthy blood flow is that it can also improve your head health too. Our scalp benefits from a rush of blood and this can help to bring strength and shine to hair follicles. If you use cinnamon as part of your hair care routine you will also find that the fragrant spice brings a beautiful heady aroma and can even lighten hair.
Side Effects
Cinnamon tea is always a true treat and thanks to its endless array of health benefits, it is definitely worth adding this spice to your rack and your teapot. Cinnamon should be consumed in moderation as too much of the sweet spice can lead to side effects.
- Cassia cinnamon can contain Coumarin which can lead to serious liver issues if consumed in large amounts.
- It is also worth noting that Cinnamaldehyde may also trigger allergies in some people.
- Those who are on certain medication may want to check with their medical professional before drinking cinnamon tea or should not drink cinnamon tea. These medications include anything to do with your blood sugar levels.
Cinnamon Tea Recipe
- Grab a cup and add one cinnamon stick or one teaspoon of ground cinnamon powder.
- Pour 8oz of boiling water over and let the cinnamon steep for 5-10 minutes depending on personal taste.
- Take out the cinnamon stick.
- Add a splash of warm milk or a teaspoon of honey if you want a sweeter creamier brew.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cinnamon Tea
How does cinnamon tea help sexually?
The ancient spice of cinnamon is considered to be something of an aphrodisiac. It was said that nobility would often burn the bark of cinnamon in their bed-chambers during sultry nights of intimacy. The sweet spice is said to affect the libido of all sexes but can be especially helpful when it comes to improving erectile function.
Is it good to drink cinnamon tea at night?
Cinnamon tea is caffeine-free meaning that you can curl up in bed with a warming cup and no worries. It can be a good bedtime brew thanks to its gentle spice and sweet aroma.
Can I drink cinnamon tea while pregnant?
You can sip cinnamon tea during pregnancy (in moderation of course) and give your immunity a much-needed boost. There are some old wives tales that also believe cinnamon tea can induce labour if you find yourself past your due date, however, there is no real scientific evidence to support that.
Does cinnamon tea have caffeine?
Good news for those who want a cup of tea without the caffeine, cinnamon is naturally caffeine-free.
When to drink cinnamon tea?
You can enjoy all the benefits of cinnamon tea throughout the day. For those who are looking to this tasty tea to help with their blood sugar levels, you may want to stick to drinking cinnamon tea while eating.
Wrap Up
Cinnamon has been a healing remedy for thousands of years and its impressive that this sweet little bark is still going strong. While we certainly agree that sprinkling it on your cookies at Christmas is a must, you don’t have to wait until winter to reap the pleasures and health benefits of cinnamon. Cinnamon tea is an awesome way of getting your daily dose and for those who find cinnamon too overpowering you can mix it up with other tea tastes too such as ginger and chai.
What are your thoughts on cinnamon tea? Will you be trying it or do you prefer other herbal tea types instead? Share with us in the comments.
Medical Disclaimer: While we have delved into the research available on the health benefits of these teas, this is for informative purposes only and shouldn’t be taken as medical advice. Those who have any health-related queries should reach out to a medical professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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