What exactly is cinnamon?

Cinnamon is tree bark from a tropical evergreen tree. Here's an interesting video that shows how cinnamon bark is harvested.

What are the main types of cinnamon?

According to The Spice House , there are over 250 plant species in the cinnamon genus. The main varieties of culinary cinnamon are Ceylon, Cassia and Saigon. If you're buying cinnamon sticks in an American grocery store, it's most likely Cassia cinnamon. You might also be able to find ceylon cinnamon sticks.

Does it matter what type of cinnamon sticks are used for this recipe?

I use generic cinnamon sticks from the grocery store, which are most likely cassia cinnamon. You can experiment with different types of cinnamon, and see which type you like best. I've noticed that some grocery store brands of cinnamon sticks have more flavor than others, so if your tea doesn't have enough flavor, this might be why. Buying tea from a spice company usually will get you more flavorful cinnamon sticks, because the quality is higher and they are fresher.

Can I reuse the cinnamon sticks after making a batch of tea?

Cinnamon sticks lose most of their flavor after one brewing. However, instead of throwing the sticks out, they can still add a lovely scent to a pot of simmered pot pourri to make your house smell nice.

What are the health benefits of cinnamon?

There are many claims of cinnamon tea benefits for health. It is thought to be a remedy for menstrual symptoms, premenstrual syndrome, weight loss, chronic inflammation, cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels and heart disease. It is best to consult your doctor before drinking cinnamon tea for any health benefit.

Can I make this tea using ground cinnamon?

You can, although the flavor won't be quite the same and the tea might have a slightly gritty texture. Try adding 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to every 3 cups of water.

Easy Homemade Cinnamon Tea (Hot or Iced)

Name: Cinnamon Tea Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 cups water (regular tap water or filtered water); 6 cinnamon sticks

Cinnamon Tea Recipe

A mug of tea next to cinnamon sticks and lemon slices.

Print Recipe

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Cinnamon tea can be served hot or cold. It's soothing on a cold winter day and refreshing on a hot summer afternoon. You can make this tea on the stove top or in a pressure cooker.

This recipe was updated December 15, 2021

Author: Jenny Meier
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
Category: Snacks, Treats & Little Things
Method: Instant Pot or Stove Top
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Units Scale

6 cups water (regular tap water or filtered water)
6 cinnamon sticks

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Instructions

Stove-Top

Bring water to a boil.
Add cinnamon sticks.
Turn down the heat, cover the pot with a lid, and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
Turn off the heat and let the cinnamon sticks steep until the desired flavor is reached. You can remove the cinnamon sticks right away, or let the cinnamon sticks steep in the water for up to an hour.

Pressure Cooker

Combine water and cinnamon sticks in an electric pressure cooker (I use an Instant Pot)
Secure the lid and cook for 5 minutes at high pressure
Let the pressure release naturally (takes about 20 minutes)
Remove the cinnamon sticks. Enjoy the hot tea immediately, or store the tea in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

This tea will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can drink it cold or reheat it on the stove or in the microwave.

Read the blog post above for additional ingredients that can be added after the tea is brewed. I like adding a squeeze of lemon. You can also add ingredients like honey, orange juice, drops of echinacea or apple cider vinegar.

You can combine cinnamon stick tea with other types of tea by adding 2 tea bags to the hot water after brewing the cinnamon tea. An herbal tea like chamomile or caffeinated tea like black tea are both good. Let the tea bags steep for about 4 minutes.

Find it online: https://www.kitchenskip.com/cinnamon-tea/