Cassia

/ˈkæʃə/ noun

Definition

A tropical tree or its dried bark used as a spice, similar to cinnamon but with a coarser flavor and darker color.

Etymology

From Greek kassia, borrowed from a Semitic language. The word traveled through Latin and Old English to describe the aromatic bark used in ancient medicine and cooking.

Kelly Says

For thousands of years, cassia was so expensive and rare that it was literally worth its weight in gold in medieval Europe—kings fought over trade routes to get it!

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