Cinnamon (Cassia)
Cinnamomum cassia · rou gui (肉桂)
Taste & Nature
- Sour
- Bitter
- Sweet
- Pungent
- Salty
- Hot
- Warm
- Neutral
- Cool
- Organ
- Kidney, Spleen, Heart
- Season
- Winter
In the Five Flavor system, pungent corresponds to the Metal element. Dispersing and opening — pungent foods move energy outward, clearing stagnation and warming the surface.
Traditional Uses
In traditional Chinese practice:
- Warm the middle and the Kidneys
- Guide warmth downward
- Support circulation
These statements describe traditional usage. They have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Cautions
- Hot — use in small amounts; not for high blood pressure flare-ups. Educational purposes only.
Elixirs on the Metal Path
View all →Recipes that carry the Metal element — the path Cinnamon (Cassia) belongs to.
Elderberry & Cinnamon Immune Syrup
A Western-meets-TCM immune tonic: dark elderberries simmered with cinnamon, ginger and clove into a thick, sweet-pungent syrup taken by the spoonful through the cold months.
Stir-Fried Greens with Ginger
Quick, vibrant greens with a warming kick of fresh ginger.
Scallion & Ginger Noodle Soup
The fifteen-minute cold-buster that every Cantonese family knows.
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