Pepper

Pepper is the dried berry of Piper Nigrum. This vine, which can grow up to ten feet tall, is indigenous to Asia. Pepper is actually a berry that is picked about nine months after flowering. Black Pepper, the spiciest, are the berries that are picked unripe. The berries used for White Pepper are ripened on the vine and soaked so that their outer skin is easily removed.

Dried ground pepper has been used since antiquity for both its flavor and as a medicine. It is one of the most common spices added to European cuisine. The spiciness of black pepper is due to the chemical piperine.

Black Pepper is extensively cultivated in tropical regions. The quality of Sri Lankan Pepper is known to be the best in the world.

Grades

1. Grade 1 - 550 G/L
2. Grade 2 (FAQ) - 500G/L

Specifications

Requirements	Grade 1	Grade 2
Extraneous Matter % by Mass, Max	1	1.5
Mouldy Berries% by Mass, Max.	1	2
Light Berries, Broken Pepper Corns & Skins % by Mass, Max.	4	10
Pin Heads % by Mass, Max.	0.5	1
Moisture, % by Mass, Max	12	14

As per Sri Lankan Standard Test Methods for Spices & Condiments.

Categories: History, Pepper, Spices

Clove

The Clove tree (Caryophylus C.) is an evergreen which grows to a height ranging from 8 to 12m, having large square leaves and sanguine flowers in numerous groups of terminal clusters. The flower buds are at first of a pale color and gradually become green, after which they develop into bright red, when they are ready for collecting. Cloves are harvested when 1.5 to 2 cm long, and consist of a long calyx, terminating in four spreading sepals, and four unopened petals which form a small ball in the center. Cloves are strong, pungent, and sweet.

Ground Cloves add spicy depth to gingerbread, cookies, muffins, cakes, and other sweets. It’s secret ingredient in barbecue and cocktail sauces. Sri Lanka Cloves command a premium price in the world market for its quality and consistency.

Grades:

1. Special (Hand Picked / Selected)
2. Grade 1

Specifications:

Characteristics	H/P	Grade 1
Headless Cloves % by Mass, Max	2.0	N/A
Cloves Below 10 mm in length % by Mass	1.0	N/A
Cloves Stems & Fruits % by Mass	0.2	2.0
Fermented Cloves % by Mass	0.5	2.0
Extraneous Matter % by Mass	0.2	0.5
Moisture percent by mass. Max	12.0	12.0

As Per CS 186:1973 Sri Lankan Standard Test Methods for spices & condiments.

Packing:
Cloves (Hand Picked) are initially packed in poly bags and then inserted in to corrugated cartons, with each carton weighing approximately 30 to 35Kgs. Cloves Grade 1/FAQ is packed in 50 Kgs gunny bags.

Categories: Clove, History, Spices

TEA AND HEALTH

Tea and Health 

The function of tea and natural, bioactive compounds in tea, as elements in a healthy lifestyle is best explained by the first line in Kakuzo Okakura’s 1906 philosophical treatise on tea, The Book of Tea. Okakura sums up the historical and ancient belief in tea as more than just a pleasing beverage by writing, “Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage…” 

Scientific research confirms what Asians believed for centuries – that green and black tea contain powerful natural antioxidants which can protect regular tea drinkers from many degenerative diseases. 

The main degenerative diseases of concern today are heart disease, high blood pressure stroke, cancer and diabetes. Studies have shown that the antioxidant activity of flavonoids in green and black tea reduces the risk of many degenerative diseases and help maintain good oral heath. 

Tea and Heart disease 

Regular consumption of correctly brewed tea, has been shown to reduce oxidation of fat. Studies suggest that green and black tea are equally effective in this respect.

Catechins in green tea, theaflavins and thearubigins in black tea were shown to have the ability of inhibit lipid oxidation and plaque formation (which can lead to heart disease), whilst reducing cholesterol. Regular consumption of tea has also been associated with reduced blood clotting. Blood clotting increases the risk of coronary thrombosis.

Tea extracts and tea polyphenols can inhibit the platelet aggregation to a certain degree, thereby reducing the risk of thrombosis. Both Green and Black Tea also improve endothelial function (vasoconstriction and vasodilation – the control of blood pressure, atherosclerosis, formation of new blood vessels -angiogenesis). 

 Tea and Cancer

Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have revealed that polyphenols in green and black tea can directly react and neutralize chemical carcinogens thereby reducing the risk of cancer. It has also been shown that tea increases the activity of detoxifying enzymes which are naturally found in the human body. 

The anticarcinogenic potential of tea is based on the ability of tea flavonoids to interact with the active carcinogens and make them inactive. In vitro and in vivo research indicates that tea and tea polyphenols inhibit initiation and later stages in the development of carcinogens. Regular consumption of tea – especially fresh tea – decreases the growth rate of tumours whilst preventing the formation of large tumours. 

Tea and Diabetes 

In Type-1 diabetes the pancreas does not produce the required amount of insulin to required amount of insulin to regulate blood glucose. In Type 2 diabetes liver and muscle cells cannot utilize the insulin produced to regulate blood glucose. 

Some plant extracts contains substances, which could mimic the action of insulin and help in managing Type 2 or non-insulin dependant diabetes. The flavonol, myricetin, which is present in green and black tea is found to be able to mimic insulin activity. 

The enzyme alpha-amylase catalyses the conversion of starch in food to glucose in the digestive process. Glucose in the digestive tract is easily absorbed into the blood stream while starch is not absorbed. Polyphenols in tea inhibit alpha-amylase activity and could contribute to reducing blood glucose. Research suggests that tea consumption can be highly beneficial for diabetics. 

Tea and Ageing 

Antioxidants in tea are known for their ability to reduce oxidative stress. Diseases of old age are thought to be the result of attack by Free Radicals. Tea polyphenols inhibit the action of Free Radicals and can contribute to better quality of life for the elderly and also possibly longevity. 

Tea and Oral Health 

Tea contains fluoride therefore tea drinking makes a significant contribution to the daily fluoride intake and to the reduction of tooth decay. It has been found that in addition to fluoride, the polyphenols in tea also act to reduce tooth decay. Recent studies have revealed that tea inhibits the growth of other harmful microorganisms in the mouth. 

In addition to these and other function benefits that are likely in tea, scientists identified a compound called L-theanine in tea. L-theanine is said to be responsible for promoting a feeling of relaxation, whilst maintaining mental alertness. 50mg of L-theanine (contained in two to three cups of tea) can naturally stimulate the brain and bring on refreshed and relaxed sensation. 

How much Tea 

Natural plant derived foods generally contain antioxidants although the antioxidants in green and black tea are much greater than levels found in fruits and vegetables. As a general rule, two cups of tea are equivalent in antioxidant capacity, to five portions of fruit or vegetables. 

Researchers are generally agreed that 5-10 cups of tea are recommended although no adverse effects have been noted from consumption of more than this number. Care should be exercised though by infants, young children at risk of type 1 diabetes, pregnant women, patients on psychoactive drugs or with sensitivity to caffeine, and tea drinkers whose diets are nutritionally not balanced. 

FURTHER READING

• Tissa Amarakoon, Shang Hong Huang & Ranil de Silva. Therapeutic Applications of Ceylon Tea: Potential and Trends [pp. 377- 417 in Yi-Zhun Zhu, Benny K-H Tan, Boon Huat Bay, Chang-Hong Liu (ed.), Natural Products, Essential Resources for Human Survival. World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., 2007]. 
• W.W.D. Modder, A.M.T. Amarakoon. Tea and Health. The Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka, 2002. 
• Revelations on the therapeutic qualities of tea have been overwhelming. According to research, there are not many of mankind’s ailments that are untouched by its therapeutic qualities. No other natural or synthetic substance comes even close to tea in terms of benefits across such a multitude of fronts. A panacea it may not be, but there is no denying that in this health conscious era, science is excited by what tea has to offer and has placed it under their microscopes like none other before.

Categories: Health Tips, Tea

How to Differentiate Between Ceylon and Cassia Cinnamon

Cinnamon is one of those herbs which have been used in the traditional treatments and medicines for a wide range of ailments since ancient times. Among many other remedies and combination, cinnamon and honey is one of the most useful, effective and easy to use home remedies for several conditions.

You need to pay attention to a very important fact that all cinnamon is no good. Most people do not know it. There is a lot of discussion on the internet on topics like benefits, uses, remedies etc of cinnamon. There is either no or little information about the fact that all cinnamon is not good. There is fake and real, good and bad, toxic and non-toxic! In this article, I have explained all about this and how to choose the right one.

Cassia Cinnamon
This is called cassia, Chinese or Saigon cinnamon. Some people also call it fake cinnamon. It is produced in countries such as Vietnam, China and Indonesia. It is very hot and by chewing a piece you can feel the pungent taste sizzle and flame in your mouth. It shares some of the characteristics with real cinnamon like being anti-microbial, anti-fungal, blood regulation etc. The real problem, however, with the fake cinnamon is that it has a high content of coumarin; in fact, nearly 1200 times higher than found in the real herb. Taking large amount of coumarin is highly toxic and a prolong use may pose several serious health damages.

According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in Germany, coumarin can damage liver and kidneys if taken for longer periods. In case of sensitive individuals, only a small amount can cause damage.

BfR further advises that cassia cinnamon contains high levels of coumarin and should not, therefore, be eaten.

Cassia Cinnamon is a lot cheaper than the real or Ceylon variety. Most cinnamon sold in the supermarket is the Chinese or Cassia variety.

Ceylon Cinnamon
This is also called real, sweet or good cinnamon. It is produced in Sri Lanka from the plant called Cinnamomum Zeylanicum. It is light brown in color and thin and soft in appearance. The sticks are filled like a cigar with several folded layers. The amount of coumarin content is only 0.0004% against 5 % found in Cinnamomum Cassia.

Ceylon Cinnamon

How to Distinguish Between the Two?

In case of ground cinnamon, it is very difficult to distinguish between the two unless you are an expert, especially at sniffing spices. Howler, there is no guarantee that the result will be one hundred percent accurate. However, in case of sticks, it is easier to differentiate between the two. The following table and pictures highlight some of the differences which shall help you to choose the correct type.

Ceylon Cinnamon	Cassian Cinnamon
Soft texture, easily broken	Hard texture Not easily broken
Soft and Sweet aromatic	Pungent and very spicy flavor
Coumarin content 0.0004%	Coumarin content 5%
Generally safe	Toxic if taken in case of prolonged use
Expensive and not found everywhere	A lot cheaper and found in supermarket
Native to Sri Lanka	Native to China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia
Light brown in color	Dark Brown or reddish in color
Soft in appearance	Rough in appearance
Several folds of layer like a cigar	only inward folded. Empty cavity

Most bottled or packaged ground cinnamon does not mention its type or origin. It is, therefore, difficult to ascertain its type and origin or the country or plant. The best course is to identify the sticks and make sure that you are buying the Ceylon variety. Once you get hold of the real “thing” , use your blender to crush it into powder.

Source : http://www.peashealth.com/fake-and-real-cinnamons/

Categories: Cinnamon, Health Tips

The Healing Benefits of CINNAMON & HONEY

Folk remedies have been around a long time for a very good reason-- they work!


Here is another for the folks: CINNAMON & HONEY

Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will do what some call turning to sugar.  Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. To do so will kill the enzymes in the honey. Make sure your honey is untreated, unprocessed and not heated, in other words get as raw as possible. This will have the greatest benefit. Caution  too much honey of any kind is not good for the body. But a little bit will help some of the following conditions.

The Cinamon should be organic. Chinese medicine says it is warming and nourishing for the Kidneys.

See about different types of Cinnamon:http://www.newrealities.com/index.php/articles-on-health/item/2934-how-to-differentiate-between-ceylon-and-cassia-cinnamon


ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two tablespoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the  Copenhagen  University , it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it.  It destroys the germs in the bladder.

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours.  As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured.  According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.  To make it lukewarm,  place it in a small jar and let it set in warm water for awhile.

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack.

Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat.   In  America and  Canada,  various nursing homes have  treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins.

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

GAS: According to the studies done in  India and  Japan , it is revealed that if Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacterial and viral diseases.


INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA – FLU: A scientist in  Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ' Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans also increase and even a 100 year old might start performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water.  If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

WEIGHT LOSS: Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder.  Do not boil, but pour one cup of boiling water onto the mixture of honey and cinnamon. Generally start off with a teaspoon of each, and then adjust depending on taste. Remember honey is a sugar based product, so teaspoon is best to start with. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.
 
SKIN INFECTIONS: Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

CANCER: Research in  Japan and  Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.

BAD BREATH: People in  South America first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts helps restore hearing.

CONCLUSION:
It is good to take some sort of mixture of cinnamon and honey daily!

Source : http://www.newrealities.com/index.php/articles-on-health/item/532-the-healing-benefits-of-cinnamon-honey

Categories: Cinnamon, Drink, Health Tips

True Ceylon Cinnamon

"True Ceylon Cinnamon" is a derivative from the bark of the aromatic perennial tree, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, native to Sri Lanka. Cinnamon has held the world under its power of fragrance and natural therapeutic properties for over centuries..

Since the 16th century, True Cinnamon has been produced and conserved in its original nature in Sri Lanka, an island known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean. Scientifically it has been revealed that Cinnamon is a natural treatment for Diabetes and Cardio vascular conditions.
Since 1998 Baurs Exports has been one of the largest exporters of Ceylon Cinnamon exporting in the excess of 1000MT annually.

GRADE	Alba	C5 Spl	C5	C4	M5	M4	H1	H2	H3
Diameter of Quills mm (Max)	6	6	10	13	16	19	23	25	38
No. of whole quills (1050mm) per Kg (Min)	45	35	31	24	22	18	11	9	7
Max permissible overall extent of foxing (%)	Nil	10	10	10	60	60	25	40	65

The moisture content of Cinnamon, after laboratory tests should not be more than 14% at the time of shipment as per the specifications given by Sri Lanka Standard Institute. (SLSI)

Quills - Scraped peel of the inner bark of mature cinnamon shoots joined together by overlaps & the hollow of which has been filled with small pieces of the same peel & thereafter dried first in the sun & then in the shade for curing.
Quills are packed in bale form of any one particular grade. Packed with inner poly liner & covered with jute hessian cloth at a height of 4 feet, it is packed at a normal weight of 25Kgs or 45 Kgs in bale form.

Quillings - Broken pieces below 200mm in length & splits of varying sizes of all grades of Cinnamon Quills. Packed in 25Kgs in poly bags.

Cuts - Quills cut in difference sizes example: 3 inch 5 inch or 20 inch etc. or as requested by the customer. Packed in either 0.5Kg or 1kg sizes, in poly bags and finally packed in corrugated cartons of 25Kgs-40Kgs.

Uses - Cinnamon is used the world over as a Spice or Condiment for flavouring cakes, sweets, curries and perfumes. In Mexico, which is the largest importer of Ceylon Cinnamon, the Quill is boiled in water and consumed as a beverage.

Categories: Cinnamon, Grade