Cassia – Cinnamomum tamala

Cassia is a moderate sized evergreen tree widely growing in the evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Western Ghats. One of the  popular spices commonly used in the Indian diet, Cassia is generally considered inferior to Cinnamon, but is often used as its substitute.

Their flavour can be fairly easily distinguished from each other. While cinnamon bark is used for culinary purposes, cassia leaves are mainly used as a spice, primarily in dishes such as Biryani and Pulao. In North India the leaves are chewed as a substitute for pan and betel leaves.