The genus Cinnamomum

Adulterations and substitutes
In early times, cassia was usually described as a somewhat inferior substitute for
cinnamon but now it has its own market. Cassia (Chinese) bark is interchangeable
in many applications with cinamon bark and oil. Cassia bark oil and leaf oil
contains cinnamaldehyde, while cinnamon leaf oil contains eugenol and bark oil
cinnamaldehyde. Detection methods have much improved and therefore adulteration
has become less common. Methods of distinguishing cinnamon bark oil from
cassia oil are based on the presence/absence of minor components such as orthomethoxy
cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and coumarin (Dao et al., 1999).
Yield
Chinese Cassia 165
Yields are generally higher during the dry season than during the wet season. Yield
varies so much from tree to tree, and from year to year, that it is practically impossible
to give the normal values. It is, however, clear that yields depend on the climate
of an area. Bark yield is higher in South Vietnam than in North Vietnam and south
China. The Tra Mi and Tra Bong cassias of South Vietnam are of the highest quality
(Khoi, 1991). The average yield of cassia bark depends on the age of the plant (Table 6.2).
The data on yield from thin prunning and main crops are shown in Table 6.3.
Cinnamon bark yield (t/ha) in South Vietnam (for the 20-year old cycle) is around
6.5 t; in south China and North Vietnam it is about 3–5 t.
Table 6.2 Chinese cassia bark yield in Vietnam
Year Diameter Height Bark weight (kg) Essential oil
(cm) (m) yield
Fresh Dry
10 7 6 6 1.4 0.06
15 10 8 11.5 2.38 0.15
20 16 12 20.5 5.63 0.24
25 20 14 26.5 6.87 0.31
30–40 25 15 40.5 11.67 0.33
Table 6.3 Cassia average yield/ha during thin prunning and main crops in a cycle of 20 years
Standard The first The second Main Yield during the
thin thin crops whole cycle
prunning prunning
Plant number 1000–1250 375–625 625
Fresh bark (kg) 600–6750 4257–7026 14062 24229–28624
Dry bark (kg) 1646 1378 3576 6540
– “Kep” Cinnamon (kgs) 276 1758 2034
(The bark made into 3 shape) – – – –
– Pipe Cinnamon (kgs) 988 689 1055 2732
– Cinnamon in loose bits (kg) 658 413 703 1174
Whole essential oil (kg) 70 59 151 280