Tvak

Tvak (Cinnamon)

Benefits:

Cinnamon is used as a spice and flavoring agent.

Cinnamon is also added to flavor chewing gums due to its mouth refreshing effects and ability to remove bad breath.

Cinnamon can also improve the health of the colon, thereby reducing the risk of colon cancer.

Cinnamon is a coagulant and prevents bleeding.

Cinnamon also increases the blood circulation in the uterus and advances tissue regeneration.

This plant plays a vital role as a spice, but its essential oils and other constituents also have important activities, including antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, and antidiabetic.

Cinnamon has been used as:

  • anti-inflammatory,
  • antitermitic,
  • nematicidal,
  • mosquito larvicidal,
  • insecticidal, antimycotic, and
  • anticancer agent.

Cinnamon has also been traditionally used as tooth powder and to treat toothaches, dental problems, oral microbiota, and bad breath

 

How do you grow this plant?

  1. Grow a cinnamon tree indoors in a container that has drainage holes and light, somewhat acidic potting soil. An example is the kind of potting soil intended for African violets. Set the container on a windowsill where tree will get sunlight for at least part of the day.
  2. Wait until the tree's soil feels dry 1 inch below the soil surface before you water the tree. A cinnamon tree is subject to root rot if it receives too much water. Fertilize the tree every two weeks from spring to fall with a water-soluble plant food, but stop fertilizing it during winter. Mist it occasionally with water from a spray bottle if the indoor air is dry.
  3. Watch for mealy bugs, pests that look like bits of cotton. Spray the tree with a neem oil solution if mealy bugs appear, repeating the treatment again one week later.

Recipes:

  1. Quick and Easy Cinnamon Sugar

Ingredients:

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Method:

  1. Gather the ingredients.
  2. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and blend thoroughly.
  3. Pour it into a small canning jar with a screw top or another small container or zip-close food storage bag.
  4. Enjoy when ready to use for baking.
  1. Cinnamon Croissants:

Ingredients:

1 sheet puff pastry, thawed

2 tablespoon butter, melted

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Roll out puff pastry and cut into 10 long rectangles.

Brush with butter. Reserve some to brush on top of croissants.

Combine sugar and cinnamon.

Sprinkle onto pastry. Reserve some for sprinkling on top of croissants.

Roll each croissant.

Brush the tops of with butter. Sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture.

Bake for 22 minutes.

Allow to cool for 3 minutes. Serve and ENJOY!

  1. Cinnamon Spiced Coffee:

Ingredients:

3/4 cup ground dark roast coffee, (regular or decaffeinated)

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons grounded cinnamons

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

6 cups water

Method:

Place coffee, sugar and cinnamon in filter in brew basket of coffee maker. Place vanilla in empty pot of coffee maker. Add water to coffee maker; brew as directed.

Pour into serving cups. Garnish with whipped cream and additional cinnamon, if desired.

Reference:

  1. Rao, Pasupuleti Visweswara, and Siew Hua Gan. “Cinnamon: a multifaceted medicinal plant.” Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM 2014 (2014): 642942. doi:10.1155/2014/642942
  2. https://homeguides.sfgate.com/care-cinnamon-tree-67453.html
  3. https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-make-cinnamon-sugar-3060767
  4. https://www.thebittersideofsweet.com/2016/01/14/cinnamon-croissants/
  5. https://www.mccormick.com/recipes/beverages-cocktails/cinnamon-spiced-coffee