CINNAMON STICKS’ SWEET SURPRISE

Cinnamon, the aromatic condiment made from tree bark, is an intriguing spice in both Chinese and Western cuisine.

Before Western cuisine became as common in China as it is today, seeing cinnamon used in cakes and pastries used to be a shock when traveling abroad, as it was difficult to relate

something Chinese people used in stewing meat to a dessert flavor — cinnamon is seldom used in sweet cooking in China besides certain teas.

Cinnamon sticks are a musthave in a Chinese pantry, they can boost the aroma of braised meat dishes, deepen the flavor of soups and even act as a pickme-up when brewed in teas.