Samut Saring Ceylon - C is for cashew, cinnamon...

Mon 21 Jul 2008 - C is for cashew, cinnamon...

Posted in creation, critters and crops

Two of our favorite things are abundant in Sri Lanka.

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Sapindales

Family: Anacardiaceae

Genus: Anacardium

Species: A. occidentale

Binomial name: Anacardium occidentale L.

The first one is the cashew nut from the cashew apple. Though we are not so keen on the fleshy pulp of the fruit, the nut, which is technically not a nut but a seed, keeps us munching endlessly once we grab hold of a bagful. It has a milky taste if eaten raw or half roasted. But i prefer to have it really roasted or quite burnt. Smells nice, too. Isn't it amazing how God has designed this fruit so differently? I remember eating a lot of cashew apples as a kid back in the province. We called it "kasuy". My aunt had a big shady tree which bears down heavily in season. They had to cut it down when they renovated the house. I never tasted the pulp again until I came here. I remember it to be mildly sweet yet pungent.We dipped it in native vinegar with rock salt. But this one was just too pungent, I didn't care much for it. My kids neither. But at least they tried and have learned that the seed is definitely tastier and better! So, the roasted cashew nut, "caju" in Sinhala, comes as a family fave treat - as well as the other nuts like pistachio and pecan, only a way cheaper and easier to find here. Well, that is why we like it =) Next fave? Of course, C is also for cinnamon... It took me all these 39 years to learn that cinnamon doesn't come only in those nifty small green lidded jars labeled McCormick as dark brown powder with lovely aromatic fragrance which draws in your mind a picture of your grandma's kitchen. Hmmm. I just love the smell of it. You could imagine how I went crazy when I saw them in packets as abundant as "laurel" (bayleaf) in our talipapa (small neighborhood market stalls) back home. I never used the powder in jars since. They come in quills, dried barks from the tree rolled in sticks. The best quality cinnamon quills can only be found in Sri Lanka. If you don't believe me check this one out =) So now, I put cinnamon on my coffee, tea, cooking, baking and even hot bath! You should try it. And there numerous health benefits from using cinnamon. Google it and you will definitely be overwhelmed.