Cinnamon
What is Cinnamon?
Cinnamon is the dried inner bark of trees in the Cinnamomum genus, rolled into quills and used either whole (for tempering or infusing into liquids) or ground (for spice blends, marinades, and baking). Its flavour is warm, sweet, slightly woody, and aromatic - one of the most recognisable spice aromas in the world. There are two main types commercially: Ceylon cinnamon (true cinnamon, milder and more delicate) and cassia (more robust, slightly harsher, and what most North American supermarkets sell as "cinnamon").
In Afghan cooking, cinnamon is a savoury spice rather than a sweet one - it appears in qabli rice, qorma, and the house spice blend as a warming background note rather than as a flavouring for desserts. A single cinnamon stick tempered in hot fat at the beginning of cooking releases a gentle, rounded warmth that underlies the whole dish without dominating it. This is one of the ways Afghan cooking differs most sharply from North American associations: cinnamon here is a lamb spice, not a sugar spice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cinnamon used in savoury Afghan dishes?
Yes. Cinnamon is a savoury spice in Afghan cooking - it appears in qabli rice and qorma, tempered in fat at the beginning of cooking. The warm, rounded sweetness it contributes is a background note that pairs naturally with lamb, beef, and slow-cooked onion sauces.
Does cinnamon appear in the Naan Kabob spice blend?
The Naan Kabob house spice blend draws from the full Afghan spice tradition, which includes cinnamon as one of the warming background spices. Its contribution to the overall flavour is present but not identifiable as "cinnamon" the way it would be in a sweet preparation.
What is the difference between cinnamon and cardamom?
Both are warming aromatic spices used in Afghan cooking, but with different character. Cinnamon is warm, sweet, and woody. Cardamom is more floral, slightly minty, and more assertively aromatic. They are not interchangeable and are often used together precisely because their flavour profiles complement rather than duplicate each other.
See also: Garam Masala ,Cloves ,Tempering Spices.
Afghan warming spices like cinnamon are in every slow-cooked dish at Naan Kabob - across all GTA locations.
