Sri Lanka Trade Tools · For Growers & Exporters

Ceylon Cinnamon Grade Calculator

Q: What is the best grade of Ceylon cinnamon?

Alba is the finest - the thinnest quills (under 6mm), smoothest and most delicate - followed by C5 Special and C5. Best depends on use: grinders and manufacturers often prefer thicker, cheaper grades (C4-M5) or quillings, which deliver the same flavour at lower cost. Match the grade to the buyer's market.

Q: How is Ceylon cinnamon graded?

Mainly by the diameter of the rolled quill - thinner is finer and more valuable - into four families: Alba, Continental (C5 Special, C5, C4), Mexican (M5/M4) and Hamburg (H1/H2). Grading also considers quills-per-kilo, colour, foxing and length. Diameter bands follow a common commercial convention; the definitive grade is set by the buyer's contract and the SLS 81:2021 certificate.

Q: What moisture level should export cinnamon be dried to?

Export-grade cinnamon is typically dried to about 10% moisture or below. Above roughly 10-12% the risk of mould, discolouration and weight loss rises, and buyers may reject or down-grade the lot. Always confirm the exact limit in the buyer's specification.

Measure your quill diameter and moisture, and see which commercial grade it falls into, Alba, C5, C4, Mexican or Hamburg, where that sits on the value ladder, and how to peel toward a finer, higher-value grade.

Continental grade · typical 10–12 mm

ContinentalHigh

Alba≤6 mm · finest
C5 Special7–9 mm
C510–12 mm
C413–15 mm
M5 (Mexican)16–18 mm
H1 (Hamburg)~20 mm + · coarsest

Export-ready, at or below the ~10% moisture target.

Level up: select thinner stems and peel younger shoots to move toward C5 Special; keep quills even, smooth and unbroken.

What this grade is roughly worth

Finer grades sit at the top of the market range; coarser grades nearer the bottom.

Sri Lankan cinnamon exports averaged about US$11–12/kg across all grades in 2024 (customs unit value), with recent premium lots trading roughly US$15–27/kg in 2026. True Ceylon cinnamon typically sells 5–10× higher than cassia (why: Saigon vs Ceylon cinnamon). These are aggregate market references. No public source publishes a firm per-grade FOB price, so this is not a quote for your lot.

Get a live FOB quote for your grade →

How the grades work

Ceylon cinnamon is graded mainly by the diameter of the rolled quill: the thinner the quill, the finer and more valuable the grade. The four families, Alba (the finest), Continental (C5 Special, C5, C4), Mexican (M5/M4) and Hamburg (H1/H2), run from thinnest and most delicate to thickest and most commercial. Thinner quills come from younger, more carefully selected shoots and take more skilled peeling, which is why Alba and C5 command a premium.

Grade	Typical diameter	Family	Market tier
Alba	≤6 mm	Alba	Premium (finest)
C5 Special	7–9 mm	Continental	Premium
C5	10–12 mm	Continental	High
C4	13–15 mm	Continental	High / medium
M5 (Mexican)	16–18 mm	Mexican	Medium
H1 (Hamburg)	~20 mm +	Hamburg	Commercial (coarsest)

For a fuller reference across all Ceylon products (cinnamon, tea, pepper, cardamom and more), see the Ceylon product grades guide. For indicative market prices, see Ceylon commodity prices.

Drying matters as much as diameter

Even a fine, thin quill loses value if it is poorly dried. Export-grade cinnamon is generally brought down to about 10% moisture or below; above that, mold, discoloration and weight loss in transit all become risks, and buyers may reject or re-grade the lot. Confirm the exact moisture limit in your buyer’s specification and the SLS 81:2021 certificate. This tool flags the common target only.

Grow with the marketplace

Whether you peel a few kilos a week or run a drying shed, we help Sri Lankan producers grade, document and reach real overseas buyers. Tell us what you have. We’ll confirm the grade against buyer specs and match you to demand.

Post your cinnamon →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best grade of Ceylon cinnamon?

Alba is the finest, the thinnest quills (≤6 mm), smoothest and most delicate, followed by C5 Special and C5. “Best” depends on use, though: grinders and manufacturers often prefer thicker, cheaper grades (C4–M5) or quillings, which deliver the same flavor at lower cost. Match the grade to the buyer’s market.

How is Ceylon cinnamon graded?

Mainly by the diameter of the rolled quill, thinner is finer and more valuable, into four families: Alba, Continental (C5 Special / C5 / C4), Mexican (M5/M4) and Hamburg (H1/H2). Grading also considers quills-per-kilo, color, foxing (spots) and length. The diameter bands here follow a common commercial convention; the definitive grade is set by the buyer’s contract and the SLS 81:2021 certificate.

What moisture level should export cinnamon be dried to?

Export-grade cinnamon is typically dried to about 10% moisture or below. Above roughly 10–12% the risk of mold, discoloration and weight loss rises, and buyers may reject or down-grade the lot. Always confirm the exact limit in your buyer’s specification.

Do you publish a price for each grade?

No, and neither does any authoritative source. Grade prices live inside private export contracts; public trade data only reports an all-grades average (about US$11–12/kg in 2024, with premium lots US$15–27/kg in 2026). Finer grades sit at the top of that range and coarser grades at the bottom. For a real figure for your lot, request a quote and we’ll confirm the grade and current FOB.