Specification for Cinnamon Whole or Ground

1. Scope and field of application

This International Standard applies for whole or ground (powdered) cinnamon produced using the bark of Cinnamomum verum/ Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Ceylon cinnamon).

2. Definitions

Cinnamon quills (full tubes): Scraped peel of the inner bark of mature cinnamon plant on shoots joined together by overlaps, the hollow of which has been filled with small pieces of the same peel and thereafter dried in sun after air curing. The product comes as sticks, known as cinnamon quills.

Cinnamon quillings (broken tubes): Broken pieces and splits of varying sizes of all grades of cinnamon quills.

Cinnamon featherings: Pieces of inner bark obtained by peeling and/or scraping the bark of small twigs and stalks of plantation cinnamon shoots which may include a quantity of chips as specified.

Cinnamon chips: Dried unpeelable bark of plantation cinnamon inclusive of the outer bark which has been obtained by beating or scraping the shoots.

Cinnamon powder: Ground cinnamon.

Whole cinnamon: All commercial forms of cinnamon except cinnamon powder.

3. Commercial grades

Quills: Table 1 – Classification of cinnamon quills, type Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

Quillings:  Contains up to 3 % (m/m) of featherings and chips.* Foxing: the occurrence of reddish-brown patches on the surface of the quills, which may become dark brown
with time. Foxing can be (a) superficial (“malkorahedi”) or (b) heavy (“korahedi”). This sub-division is based on
the depth of the patches.
** Extent determined by visual examination.
***  Bale: a package of any one particular grade of quills wrapped with suitable material for export.

Featherings :  Contains up to 5 % (m/m) of chips.

Chips : Chips shall consist of well dried and unpeelable cinnamon bark.

Ground cinnamon: The powder shall be constituted solely by the types of Quills, Quillings, Featherings & Chips. If there is a designation of origin, the powder shall be prepared exclusively from the barks concerned.

4. Requirements

Flavour: The flavour of cinnamon shall be fresh and characteristic of the spice of the origin concerned. It shall be free from foreign flavours, including mustiness.

Colour: Cinnamon powder shall be yellowish to reddish brown colour.

Freedom from moulds, insects, etc. Whole cinnamon shall be free from living insects, moulds, mites and insect remains, for example cocoons, and shall be practically free from dead insects, insect fragments and rodent contamination visible to the naked eye (corrected, if necessary, for abnormal vision), with such magnification as may be necessary in any particular case. If the magnification exceeds x10, this fact shall be stated in the test report.

In case of dispute, contamination in cinnamon powder shall be determined by the method described in ISO 1208.

Extraneous matter: The proportion of extraneous matter in whole cinnamon shall not exceed 1% (m/m) when determined by the method described in ISO 927. Extraneous matter comprises leaves, stems, chaff and other vegetable matter. The only mineral matter permitted is sand, earth and dust.

In the case of cinnamon quills, type Sri Lanka, take about 110 g of quills per bale of Continental grade and 230 g of quills per bale of Mexican or Hamburg grades, break them up and inspect the filling. Unscraped inner bark, scrapings, foreign matter, bark of wild cinnamon and other genera shall not be present.

Chemical requirements (Ceylon cinnamon): Table 2 – Chemical requirements

5. Sampling

Sample cinnamon quills by the method described Sampling of Cinnamon Quills.  Sample all other forms of cinnamon in accordance with ISO 948.

6. Methods of test

Samples of whole cinnamon and cinnamon powder shall be tested for conformity with the requirements of the International Standard by the methods referred to in Table 2.

7. Packing and marking:

Table 2 – Packing requirements

8. Transport:

The containers should be so handled and transported that they are protected from the rain, from the sun or other source of excessive heat, from objectionable odours, from contamination and mechanical spoilage.

The store room should be dry, free from objectionable odours, proofed against entry of insects and vermin and well protected from the sun, rain and excessive heat. The ventilation should be controlled.

9. References

• ISO 6539, Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) — Specification
• ISO 927, Spices and condiments – Determination of extraneous matter content.
• ISO 928, Spices and condiments – Determination of total ash.
• ISO 930, Spices and condiments – Determination of acid insoluble ash.
• ISO 939, Spices and condiments – Determination of moisture content – Entrainment method.
• ISO 948, Spices and condiments – Sampling.
• ISO 1208, Ground spices – Determination of filth (Reference method).
• ISO 2825, Spices and condiments – Preparation of a ground sample for analysis.
• ISO 6571, Spices and condiments – Determination of volatile oil content.