Reaching your table as a sweetly intense, warm spice, cinnamon interestingly derives from the bark of a tree. Cinnamon basically comes as pieces, quills, or as a powder. But, you may be interested in knowing if ground cinnamon and cinnamon powder are the same or two different items.
Cinnamon powder and ground cinnamon are apparently the same if they come from the same variety of cinnamon, and they are just synonymous terms used for pulverized cinnamon. But what if they do not come from the same type? That is what we are going to discover in particular from this feature. So, if you have powdered or grounded cinnamon at home, just sit, relax and scroll down to learn more information!
Cinnamon Powder Vs Ground Cinnamon
Cinnamon adds the perfect zing to any dish that it calls for. When you walk into the spice aisle of the supermarket, you can find cinnamon as pieces, quills, or as a powder.
However, when talking about cinnamon powder and ground cinnamon, as mentioned on top, they seem to be the same if they derive from the same type of cinnamon. But still, ground cinnamon could have a little difference in its texture and can be slightly coarser than powdered cinnamon, whereas cinnamon powder is more refined than ground cinnamon. However, this could depend.
| Ground cinnamon | Cinnamon Powder |
| Is made from both Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia cinnamon. | Is made from both Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia cinnamon. |
| It could be slightly coarse in texture depending on the way it is pulverized. | More refined in texture, like a flour-like consistency. |
| Widely available. | Widely available. |
| Ceylon ground cinnamon can be expensive and rare. In contrast, Cassia ground cinnamon is pretty cheap and available. | Ceylon cinnamon powder is exotic and can be very expensive. But Cassia cinnamon powder is readily available and is way cheaper. |
| If it is slightly coarse in texture, ground cinnamon is best with savory dishes like curries or other dishes that call for combining spices. | Due to the finer texture, it is best to be used in sweet dishes like cakes, desserts, or as a sprinkle in lattes and consumed as a tea. |
| It usually comes in containers and has a shelf life of up to three to four years. | Generally comes in containers and has a shelf life of up to three to four years. |
| Should be stored in a cool, dry place in an air-tight container. | Should be stored in air-tight containers in a cool, dry place. |
Nevertheless, not all cinnamon is the same. Powdered or ground form of cinnamon you buy from the store will come from different sources. This means there are two main types of cinnamon: Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia cinnamon.
Ceylon cinnamon or “true cinnamon” is a more delicate, mild, and sweeter variety that could be easily pulverized. At the same time, Cassia cinnamon is rigid, more intensely flavored, sharp, and bitter, which is not easily crushable, unlike Ceylon cinnamon. However, Ceylon cinnamon can be very expensive and exotic, whereas Cassia is relatively inexpensive, and you can find it from anywhere around your local area.
For further clarification, refer to the table below that will explain all the possible differences between cinnamon powder and ground cinnamon.
Now you are equipped with facts about cinnamon powder and ground cinnamon. So, wouldn’t you like to spend some minutes learning about the Grades of Ceylon Cinnamon? If interested, click here for a fully detailed article.
Conclusion
So, as you can clearly see on the table above, there aren’t so many differences between cinnamon powder and ground cinnamon.
However, the texture of the two could have a slight difference depending on the way they are pulverized. And, they might be different from the type of cinnamon used. But, we can get ground cinnamon or powdered cinnamon both from Cassia and Ceylon.
You may find it challenging to discover if they are Cassia cinnamon or Ceylon cinnamon when they are in the powdered or grounded form. So, the best thing would be to read the label before purchasing or inquiring from the manufacturer.
