2021-03-10 Wed

One of the oldest spices known to mankind is Cinnamon. This little subtle perfumed stick has been growing on the little tree harvested in India, Brazil, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam and Egypt. In India the liberal use made of cinnamon for as long as anyone can remember. In the 3rd century BC, this small stick of gold reaches Greeks and Roman. It’s early used was for aphrodisiac and tonic. The famous legend of Emperor Nero narrates how in a rage he killed this wife Poppea and burned her funeral pyre with all reserves of Cinnamon in Rome. It was said that Cinnamon was one of the most expensive commodities imported in ancient Roman Empire

The supremacy of the cinnamon trade in India is legendary, to gain control over cinnamon was fought between Portuguese, Dutch and British. The largest island in the Indian Ocean, Srilanka was the major cultivator and exporter of Cinnamon from the 17th century under the Dutch regime. Dutch handed over the monopoly of the cinnamon trade to the British’s around 1769 after there defeat. It is said the production of Cinnamon under British control nearly reach a thousand tonnes.

To commemorate this ancient and medicinal spice of the ancient world, Malaysia Post issued a stamp illustrating the Cinnamon sticks in 2011.

Image Courtesy: kajang-stamps.blogspot.com