You know the one — the sweet, warming spice that makes porridge feel cosy and banana bread taste like a hug. I’ve used it in baby snacks, autumn teas, cookies, and even sprinkled it on top of frothy milk for my coffee.
But here’s what I didn’t realise until recently: There isn’t just one kind of cinnamon.
And the type most of us are buying? It’s not the one you want to be giving your child daily.
There are two main types — and they’re very different.
Let’s break it down:
Cassia Cinnamon (the cheap, common one)
What’s in 90% of supermarkets
Strong flavour, slightly spicy
High in coumarin — a compound that can be harmful in large doses
Long-term use is linked to liver damage, especially in children
Often just labelled as “ground cinnamon” with no further info
Ceylon Cinnamon (aka “True Cinnamon”)
Milder, sweeter flavour
Naturally low in coumarin
Safer for daily use, especially for children or during pregnancy
It might seem more expensive at first, but when you buy a bigger pack, the price per gram is actually similar to supermarket cinnamon — it just lasts longer and is so much better for your family.
The scary part? Most people don’t even know this. I didn’t.
One study found that some cassia cinnamon products had 100x more coumarin than is considered safe for children. And yet, there’s no warning label. It’s still sold as “natural” and “healthy.”
How this impacts our families
Cinnamon is everywhere in kid-friendly foods — baby snacks, cereals, biscuits, even “healthy” fruit bars. And while small amounts of cassia now and then might not do harm, if you’re baking with it, sprinkling it on porridge, and using it in teas or toddler snacks daily… it adds up.
Our little ones have tiny livers. They process toxins more slowly. That’s why using Ceylon cinnamon is such a simple way to reduce their overall toxin load — and still keep the yummy cinnamon vibes.
Look for:
Labels that say “Ceylon Cinnamon” or “True Cinnamon”
Brands that show country of origin (Ceylon/Sri Lanka = good sign)
Organic if possible, especially if you're using it often
One tiny swap = one big win
This isn’t about throwing everything out. It’s just a simple switch — the next time you run out of cinnamon, choose the kind that’s actually safe for everyday use. That’s it.
Because sometimes the biggest difference in our health doesn’t come from expensive supplements or extreme diets — it comes from paying attention to the little things we use every day.
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