Chinese cinnamon

noun

: the dried bark of a southeast Asian tree (Cinnamomum cassia synonym C. aromaticum) that yields a somewhat sweet and spicy variety of cassia sold as cinnamon
also : the powdered spice produced from Chinese cinnamon bark compare ceylon cinnamon, indonesian cinnamon, saigon cinnamon

Examples of Chinese cinnamon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sweet spices — maybe Chinese cinnamon? Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2021 Other Cinnamomum species that are cultivated for commercial purposes are C. burmannii (Indonesian cinnamon), C. loureiroi (Saigon cinnamon or Vietnamese cinnamon), and C. cassia (Cassia or Chinese cinnamon) [1]. Alice Chi Phung, Discover Magazine, 27 May 2014

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Chinese cinnamon was in 1792

Dictionary Entries Near Chinese cinnamon

Cite this Entry

“Chinese cinnamon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Chinese%20cinnamon. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

Chinese cinnamon

noun
Chi·​nese cinnamon chī-ˌnēz-, -ˌnēs- How to pronounce Chinese cinnamon (audio)
1
: the bark of a southeast Asian tree of the genus Cinnamomum (C. cassia) that is the source of cinnamon oil

called also cassia bark

2
: the tree that yields Chinese cinnamon
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