Cinnamon sticks

[blairhoney]

I bought some cinnamon sticks yesterday for a drink recipe... those suckers are expensive! I feel like I frequently see them called for used as swizzles in hot chocolate and other pretty ordinary recipes. Are they always single use, or can you use them more than once?

Kind of a silly question, but I felt bad throwing away the used sticks that were basically $1/piece. Seems pretty pricey for such a common ingredient, so am I missing something obvious?

[miss_sonja]

The solution is to buy them at the Asian or Mexican grocery stores. THey're super cheap there, but still nummy. I get a bag of 20 or so for a couple of dollars.

They can't really be used again if you've simmered them in cider or such--they'll have lost all their flavour.

[Drummer's Wife]

I just got a handful of cinnamon sticks, myself, and have no idea what to do with them. I was thinking about grinding them up to have fresh cinnamon? Did you already use yours for drinks? 'cause then I do think you have to toss them...

[blairhoney]

Ok, that's fair. I figured there must be a cheaper source than the McCormick ones at the regular store. I'll keep my eyes peeled next time I'm at an ethnic grocery.

I made a gingerbread simple syrup with them, and there was no question about tossing them afterward - they were a sticky mess. But they did make the most delightful cocktails...

[Princess ConsuelaB]

I get mine in the grocery store back where they keep the mexican foods. They're in clear bags and cost a dollar or two this way. Don't get them in the spice/baking aisle.

If I'm using them as swizzles in drinks I might reuse them....only with family, if you cooked with them they lose their flavor though they might have enough lest just for sticking in a mug of cocoa.

[cristeen]

Definitely don't buy them in the jars. That's a ridiculous price to be paying for them. I agree that the Mexican bagged spices are a great way to go if you can. Otherwise find someplace that sells them in bulk. They are only pennies a piece that way.

[LVale]

Used cinnamon sticks have one last use in then. I put them in a pot of water with say orange peel, lemon peel, some cloves and let them simmer on the back of the stove, kind of like a potpourri and the smell is wonderful!

[amandaleigh37]

I get mine in the grocery store back where they keep the mexican foods. They're in clear bags and cost a dollar or two this way. Don't get them in the spice/baking aisle.

This!! A friend told me this recently... even in Walmart - go look by the ethnic/Mexican foods and you can buy a bag of them - twice as much as the pricey jars in the baking aisle - for $1-2. MUCH cheaper!

[Red]

You can often get a large jar at the dollar store too.

[Ola_]

Around here they have the bagged spices (often no-name or ethnic brands) in the regular spice isle, below the jarred spices. They're always cheaper too!

[Gingercat]

There are two types of cinnamon: the real cinnamon which comes from Ceylon, and the Chinese cinnamon (or Cassia) which is pretty much the standard one that can be found nearly everywhere. The Ceylon cinnamon is very flavorful and aromatic but also rare and very expensive.

Could it be that the expensive one you buy is also the real one?
Take a look here to check: How do you identify real Cinnamon from Cassia

Also you should know that the Cassia-type of cinnamon could be toxic and has already been banned from several EU countries.

Warning: once you try the real Ceylon cinnamon it'd be almost impossible to go back to the fake kind as it is sooo tasty and aromatic