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Name: Jan
Status: educator
Grade: N/A
Location: MA
Country: USA
Date: N/A
Question:
Why doesn't powdered cinnamon dissolve in water?

Replies:
Powdered cinnamon is the ground up bark of the tree "Cinnamomum zeylanicum" or "Cinnamomum Joureirii", Celon And Saigon cinnamon respectively. So a major component of the cinnamon powder is water insoluble cellulose. The flavor is a mixture of volatile organic compounds, a major component being cinnamanaldehyde, which is not very water soluble. There are other various "oils" present. These tend to make cinnamon not easily "wetted" by water, so it appears "insoluble". It can be dispersed in water with vigorous stirring, heat and other components in a food recipe. But it is not truly "soluble" in the usual sense of individual molecules being present in the fluid phase.

Vince Calder

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