CINNAMON OR TRUE CINNAMON - Intercom Exports

CINNAMON/ CASSIA BARK OIL
Cinnamon bark contains 0.5-1% volatile oil. It is reported to vary from
0.95-3.55%. the essential oil, generally manufactured in the USA and Europe, is steam
distilled mainly from cinnamon chips and refuse left over after the preparation of quills
from the apice trade. Bark oil has the following properties-
1) specific gravity at 15.5 0 c : 0.0150-1.03
2) optical rotation at 20 0 c : 0 to 8°
3) refractive index at 20º c : 1.565 to 15.99
it is light yellow in colour when freshly distilled and changes to red on storage. It
contains cinnamaldehyde 60-75%, eigenol and benzaldehyde, etc., Synthetic
cinamaldehyde and cinnamon leaf oil are the common adulterants for bark oil. A
beginning has been made in the export of cinnamon bark during recent years.
CINNAMON LEAF OIL
Cinnamon leaves and very tender twigs/ shoots are collected dried in partial shade
for a day or two to expel most of the moisture and transferred to big stills in which steam
under 15 lb pressure is passed through from the bottom of the metallic stills/ boilers. This
process of steam distillation is continued for 7-8 years and the distillate after cooling
through condenser is collected. The oil being heavier than water can be easily separated
from water by the decantation and filteration process. The oil being aggressive/ corrosive
in nature, is packed and stored in dark brown glass containers. Its yield varies from 1.6-
3.4% . it has a pungent odour, hot taste and contains 70-80% eugenol traces of cinnamic
aldehyde. The oil is yellowish with a slight camphoraceous odour resembling to that of
clove oil it has
1) specific gravity at 15.5º c : 1.045 to 1.055
2) optical rotation at 20º c : -1 to +3º
3) refractive index at 20º c :1.530 to 1.548