Cinnamon

A sweet spice which is slightly hot and is derived from the inner bark of an East Indian evergreen tree of the laurel family. The inner bark is removed and when it is laid out, it curls into long sticks. The sticks are cut and sold as is or the bark can be ground into a fine powder. Cinnamon is commonly used in many parts of the world, but it is especially popular in Middle Eastern cuisine. It is used in sweet as well as savory dishes.