Yes, you can eat real cinnamon sticks.
How Cinnamon Sticks Are Typically Used in Cooking
While cinnamon sticks are technically edible, they are most commonly used to infuse flavor into various dishes and beverages rather than being consumed whole. Their robust aroma and taste are excellent for enriching liquids and foods with their distinctive warm, sweet, and spicy notes.
Common Culinary Applications
Cinnamon sticks are quite versatile in the kitchen, adding a comforting essence to many recipes. Here are some popular ways they are incorporated into culinary creations:
- Warm Beverages: They are frequently stirred into hot drinks, where they slowly release their flavor.
- Hot chocolate
- Hot apple cider
- Mulled wine
- Savory and Sweet Dishes: Cinnamon sticks can also enhance a range of food preparations.
- Pickling brine for vegetables, adding an aromatic depth.
- Fruit compotes and preserves, complementing the sweetness of the fruit.
Many people enjoy the subtle, infused flavor that cinnamon sticks impart to these items. It's common practice to remove the stick from the dish or drink once the desired taste has been achieved, as their woody texture makes them less appealing to eat directly.
