This week, we will continue our exploration of culinary herbs with Cinnamon.  This readily recognized spice has a long history of use and trade.  The earliest writings about cinnamon date back to 2700 BCE in China.  Cinnamon being used as an anointing oil by Moses is recorded in the Judeo-Christian bible.  Ancient Egyptians used cinnamon in their cooking as well as embalming practices.  Pliny the Elder in the 1st century CE wrote of cinnamon as having 15 times the value of silver. (1)  This is quite the setup for a spice associated with pastries and pumpkin pie!