Ground Cinnamon and Water

name         Jan
status       educator
location     MA

Question -   Why doesn't powdered cinnamon dissolve in water?
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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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