(How do I know whether I have true cinnamon or cassia?)
Cassia is closely related to true cinnamon: the one is Cinnamomum cassia and the other Cinnamomum verum and I have trouble describing the difference except to say that I think of the flavor of cassia as sharper, rawer, and slightly bitter; I am not one of the people who finds it completely unpalatable as a spice, but it stands out oddly in fruit or sweet dishes of any sort. (What feels most accurate is to say that cassia is more angular and I just prefer cinnamon, but I'm not sure how much that helps.) True cinnamon is often marketed as "Ceylon cinnamon," with cassia sold as "Chinese" or "Vietnamese cinnamon." They can be easily distinguished in stick form: cassia sticks are hard single rolls of bark, while cinnamon sticks are packed tight with multiple, more easily ground layers. If it's already a powder and you have only the one kind, I don't think cassia will kill the dish; I just know cinnamon will taste better.
I have not had dessert tonight
That is an unhappy statement. If it's any consolation, the sweet potatoes come out very sweet.
no subject
Huzzah! Let me know how it works for you.
(How do I know whether I have true cinnamon or cassia?)
Cassia is closely related to true cinnamon: the one is Cinnamomum cassia and the other Cinnamomum verum and I have trouble describing the difference except to say that I think of the flavor of cassia as sharper, rawer, and slightly bitter; I am not one of the people who finds it completely unpalatable as a spice, but it stands out oddly in fruit or sweet dishes of any sort. (What feels most accurate is to say that cassia is more angular and I just prefer cinnamon, but I'm not sure how much that helps.) True cinnamon is often marketed as "Ceylon cinnamon," with cassia sold as "Chinese" or "Vietnamese cinnamon." They can be easily distinguished in stick form: cassia sticks are hard single rolls of bark, while cinnamon sticks are packed tight with multiple, more easily ground layers. If it's already a powder and you have only the one kind, I don't think cassia will kill the dish; I just know cinnamon will taste better.
I have not had dessert tonight
That is an unhappy statement. If it's any consolation, the sweet potatoes come out very sweet.