Ceylon Cinnamon vs Cassia: What Buyers Need to Know

Most cinnamon sold in global bulk markets is not cinnamon. It is cassia — a related but botanically distinct spice that carries significantly higher levels of coumarin, a naturally occurring compound subject to strict regulatory limits in the EU and increasingly scrutinised in the US and UK. For buyers sourcing cinnamon at volume, the distinction is not just a matter of flavour profile. It is a compliance question.

This guide explains the botanical difference, the regulatory framework, how Ceylon cinnamon grades work, what HS codes apply, and how to verify the origin of what you are buying.

The Botanical Difference

True cinnamon — Cinnamomum verum (also written C. zeylanicum) — originates in Sri Lanka. It is the inner bark of a specific laurel-family tree, harvested by hand in strips and rolled into multi-layer quills by skilled artisans. The resulting quill is soft, tan-coloured, and formed of many thin layers.

Cassia refers to a group of related species — most commonly C. cassia (Chinese cassia), C. aromaticum, and C. loureiroi (Vietnamese/Saigon cinnamon). Cassia quills are single-layer, hard, and dark reddish-brown. Cassia represents approximately 90% of global cinnamon trade by volume and is the variety sold in most supermarkets in North America, Germany, and the Middle East.

The flavour difference is real: Ceylon cinnamon is lighter, more floral, and complex. Cassia is stronger, spicier, and more one-dimensional. For food manufacturers using cinnamon as a flavour component in high volumes — baked goods, breakfast cereals, confectionery, beverages — the regulatory implications of cassia matter more than the flavour difference.

Why Coumarin Is a Regulatory Issue

Coumarin is a naturally occurring chemical compound present in the bark of cassia species at concentrations between 0.4% and 4% by dry weight. At high doses, coumarin is hepatotoxic (liver-damaging) in susceptible individuals. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 0.1 mg/kg body weight per day in 2004, which led to the regulatory limits above.

Ceylon cinnamon (C. verum) contains coumarin at approximately 0.004% — roughly 250 times less than the lowest-coumarin cassia varieties. This makes Ceylon cinnamon compliant in EU everyday food applications at any realistic use level.

In the United States, the FDA has not set specific coumarin limits in food, but has acknowledged EFSA’s findings and considers high-coumarin intake a concern for regular consumers. UK post-Brexit regulations mirror the EU limits. Canada aligns broadly with EU thresholds. If you are formulating a product for EU, UK, or Canadian distribution, sourcing verified Ceylon cinnamon eliminates coumarin compliance risk entirely.

Ceylon Cinnamon Grades

Ceylon cinnamon is graded by the diameter and quality of the quill. The Sri Lanka Cinnamon Exporters Association and the EDB recognise five primary grades, with Alba being the highest. Ground cinnamon can be produced from any grade but is often sourced from lower grades or quill offcuts.

Prices are indicative FOB Colombo for conventional (non-organic) whole quill, 2025–2026. Organic-certified adds approximately 25–40% premium. Ground cinnamon pricing is generally 10–15% below equivalent whole quill grade.

HS Codes for Ceylon Cinnamon

Correct HS code classification determines the duty rate applied at destination customs and whether preferential rates under Sri Lanka’s trade agreements apply (EU GSP+, UK GSP, ISFTA with India).

How to Verify the Origin of Your Cinnamon

Origin fraud is a documented problem in the cinnamon market — cassia is sometimes relabelled as Ceylon cinnamon, particularly in ground form where visual inspection is impossible. Practical verification steps:

1. Request the Certificate of Origin (CO) issued by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB). This is a formal government-issued document confirming Sri Lankan origin and is required for EU GSP+ duty claims.
2. Request a COA (Certificate of Analysis) including species identification (thin-layer chromatography or HPLC testing is standard for species verification) and coumarin content.
3. For ground cinnamon: Request a DNA authentication test report. PCR-based species testing can definitively confirm C. verum vs cassia — several accredited labs in Sri Lanka and the EU offer this service.
4. Buy from EDB-verified exporters — on SriLankaExport.com, the Verified Exporter badge confirms EDB registration.

MOQ, Packaging, and Sourcing Process

Ceylon cinnamon is typically sold in:

• Whole quills: In 25 kg cartons or bales. MOQ typically 100 kg for premium grades (Alba/C5); 500 kg for mid grades (C4/M4).
• Ground cinnamon: In 25 kg multilayer paper bags with inner PE liner. MOQ typically 250 kg.

The procurement process follows the same steps as all products on this platform: review the listing → request a quote with grade, quantity, and certification requirements → receive a tailored quote within 48 hours → place order and arrange payment (Stripe card or TT/SWIFT for larger orders). See How SriLankaExport.com Works for the full step-by-step, and Trade Compliance for documentation requirements.