Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

SPICE IT UP

Cassia vs Cinnamon part 2

Last week in part 1 of this segment about cinnamon and cassia, Ian the herb and spice expert talked mainly about where and how, each of these spices are produced.

One thing to note: in America, Cassia Cinnamon is just called cinnamon and Sri Lankan cinnamon is called Mexican cinnamon.  

Keep this in mind when reading recipes on the internet or in American cookbooks.

Also, how to tell them apart just by looking at the cinnamon sticks, or feeling and tasting the power.

This time, we’re delving a bit deeper and giving out some recipe ideas also.

I'm talking with was Ian Hemphill from www.herbies.com.au

Let’s find out.

 

PLAY: Cinnamon and Cassia part 2_ 27th November 2019

There were some tricks of the spice trade to trap unwary customers.

Cassia is from a different tree mianly grown in China, Japan and Vietnam. 

Cassia on the left: Cinnamon on the  right

All of the bark is taken from the tree to make cassia quills. These look deceptively like the more expensive cinnamon quills but here's the difference.

Cinnamon quills have many concentric layers

Cassia quills only have one concentric layer.

If you want to make Chai tea, think twice before using cassia cinnamon.

This type of cinnamon is too strong, but the true cinnamon, or what I regard as true cinnamon from Sri Lanka, is milder and sweet.

Think cheap spice, is it really worth it?

Remember unless that cinnamon powder that you bought feels smooth with any any grittiness, it’s probably been adulterated with cinnamon outer bark. 

Mulled wine jelly

 

INGREDIENTS

 

Rind of 1 orange

Rind of 1 lemon

2 cinnamon quills

6 cloves

1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped

100ml vodka

10 gold-strength gelatine leaves

200ml port

2 cups (500ml) red wine

2/3 cup (150g) caster sugar

300ml thickened cream

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

 

Herbies Mulled Wine spices can be susbtituted for the cinnamon, cloves and vanilla bean.

METHOD

 

Place rinds, cinnamon quills, cloves, vanilla pod and seeds and vodka in a bowl.

Stand, covered at room temperature for 4 hours or overnight to infuse.

Once citrus mix is ready, soak gelatine in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, transfer citrus mixture to a pan.

Add the port, wine and sugar, then place over low heat and cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves (don't let it boil).

Squeeze gelatine to remove any excess water, then add the leaves to the pan and stir to dissolve.

Cool slightly.

Strain the mulled wine into a jug, then pour into a 1-litre jelly mould.

Cover and chill overnight until set.

When ready to serve, whip cream then fold in ground cinnamon.

Unmould the jelly, then serve with cinnamon cream

If you have any questions for me or for Ian, why not write in to [email protected] or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.

SPICE IT UP

Cassia vs Cinnamon part 2

Last week in part 1 of this segment about cinnamon and cassia, Ian the herb and spice expert talked mainly about where and how, each of these spices are produced.

One thing to note: in America, Cassia Cinnamon is just called cinnamon and Sri Lankan cinnamon is called Mexican cinnamon.  

Keep this in mind when reading recipes on the internet or in American cookbooks.

Also, how to tell them apart just by looking at the cinnamon sticks, or feeling and tasting the power.

This time, we’re delving a bit deeper and giving out some recipe ideas also.

I'm talking with was Ian Hemphill from www.herbies.com.au

Let’s find out.

 

PLAY: Cinnamon and Cassia part 2_ 27th November 2019

There were some tricks of the spice trade to trap unwary customers.

Cassia is from a different tree mianly grown in China, Japan and Vietnam. 

Cassia on the left: Cinnamon on the  right

All of the bark is taken from the tree to make cassia quills. These look deceptively like the more expensive cinnamon quills but here's the difference.

Cinnamon quills have many concentric layers

Cassia quills only have one concentric layer.

If you want to make Chai tea, think twice before using cassia cinnamon.

This type of cinnamon is too strong, but the true cinnamon, or what I regard as true cinnamon from Sri Lanka, is milder and sweet.

Think cheap spice, is it really worth it?

Remember unless that cinnamon powder that you bought feels smooth with any any grittiness, it’s probably been adulterated with cinnamon outer bark. 

Mulled wine jelly

 

INGREDIENTS

 

Rind of 1 orange

Rind of 1 lemon

2 cinnamon quills

6 cloves

1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped

100ml vodka

10 gold-strength gelatine leaves

200ml port

2 cups (500ml) red wine

2/3 cup (150g) caster sugar

300ml thickened cream

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

 

Herbies Mulled Wine spices can be susbtituted for the cinnamon, cloves and vanilla bean.

METHOD

 

Place rinds, cinnamon quills, cloves, vanilla pod and seeds and vodka in a bowl.

Stand, covered at room temperature for 4 hours or overnight to infuse.

Once citrus mix is ready, soak gelatine in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, transfer citrus mixture to a pan.

Add the port, wine and sugar, then place over low heat and cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves (don't let it boil).

Squeeze gelatine to remove any excess water, then add the leaves to the pan and stir to dissolve.

Cool slightly.

Strain the mulled wine into a jug, then pour into a 1-litre jelly mould.

Cover and chill overnight until set.

When ready to serve, whip cream then fold in ground cinnamon.

Unmould the jelly, then serve with cinnamon cream

If you have any questions for me or for Ian, why not write in to [email protected] or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Hakea petiolaris; Sea Urchin  Hakea

There are many reasons to like a particular plant which affects our choices.

For some it’s the flowers or the perfume, for others it’s the colour of the leaves.

But for something completely different, others like a plant because of the sound the wind makes through the leaves of that particular plant.

Hakea petiolaris flower

So what will appeal with this plant?

I'm talking with Adrian O’Malley, horticulturist and native plant expert.

Let’s find out.

 

For grey leaves, and spectacular flowers, the hakea is something to think about if you want a native small tree.

Medium tree 5 to 11 m high. Leaves are pale grey, broadly  obovate in shape and range from 5-15cm long by 2.3-6cm wide. 

Endemic to the south west of Australia, occurring at the coastal plain, jarrah forest and wheatbelt regions, often at the ancient granite outcrops of Western Australia. 

The only thing to watch for is high humidity can make them short lived.

Still, if you collect the seeds, then grow some more from seed and you’ll have another tree quite quickly.

 

If you have any questions for me or for Adrian, please contact us or write in.

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Hakea petiolaris; Sea Urchin  Hakea

There are many reasons to like a particular plant which affects our choices.

For some it’s the flowers or the perfume, for others it’s the colour of the leaves.

But for something completely different, others like a plant because of the sound the wind makes through the leaves of that particular plant.

Hakea petiolaris flower

So what will appeal with this plant?

I'm talking with Adrian O’Malley, horticulturist and native plant expert.

Let’s find out.

 

For grey leaves, and spectacular flowers, the hakea is something to think about if you want a native small tree.

Medium tree 5 to 11 m high. Leaves are pale grey, broadly  obovate in shape and range from 5-15cm long by 2.3-6cm wide. 

Endemic to the south west of Australia, occurring at the coastal plain, jarrah forest and wheatbelt regions, often at the ancient granite outcrops of Western Australia. 

The only thing to watch for is high humidity can make them short lived.

Still, if you collect the seeds, then grow some more from seed and you’ll have another tree quite quickly.

 

If you have any questions for me or for Adrian, please contact us or write in.

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Pruning 101: Deciduous vs Evergreen.

Deciduous and evergreen plants have different pruning needs.

Have you ever had a shrub, say philadelphus that you thought wasn’t performing-no flowers for several years, so you transplanted it or pulled it out?

Perhaps you weren’t timing it right? 

I'm talking with Jason Cornish from www.urbanmeadows.com.au

Let’s find out.

 

Marianne's Tips on Pruning

Pruning group

Pruning method

Time of pruning

Examples of plants

Flower on current season’s growth

Old wood thing. New growth shortened.

Winter/early spring

Roses, abelia, buddleia. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Flowers on previous season’s growth

Immediately after flowering

Spring

Spiraea, Rondeletia,Prunus glandulosa, Acacia, Callistemon, Grevillea

Flowering on older wood and spurs

Maintain tidy shape

After flowering

Prunus cerasifera & other prunus species

For showy fruits

Cut away most of leaders

 After fruiting if needed

Cotoneaster, pyracantha, Berberis spp.

For showy foliage

Prune 50% of growth’ feed and water

Winter to spring

Abutilon, Aucuba japonica-gold dust plant. Buxus.  Hebe, Euonymus.

Non flowering evergreen

Do not prune back beyond green foliage into older wood

Late winter

Conifers

If you don’t know what shrub or tree that you’ve got, the best advice is to wait until it flowers or sets fruit, and then prune after that.

In the case of philadelphus, as soon as the shrub had finished flowering, cut out all of the stems which have just flowered.

Prune them back to around a third of their length. They will soon start to produce new stems which will provide the flowering stems for next year. Don’t just prune little bits off the end 

If you have any questions for me or for Jason, please write in to [email protected]

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Pruning 101: Deciduous vs Evergreen.

Deciduous and evergreen plants have different pruning needs.

Have you ever had a shrub, say philadelphus that you thought wasn’t performing-no flowers for several years, so you transplanted it or pulled it out?

Perhaps you weren’t timing it right? 

I'm talking with Jason Cornish from www.urbanmeadows.com.au

Let’s find out.

 

Marianne's Tips on Pruning

Pruning group

Pruning method

Time of pruning

Examples of plants

Flower on current season’s growth

Old wood thing. New growth shortened.

Winter/early spring

Roses, abelia, buddleia. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Flowers on previous season’s growth

Immediately after flowering

Spring

Spiraea, Rondeletia,Prunus glandulosa, Acacia, Callistemon, Grevillea

Flowering on older wood and spurs

Maintain tidy shape

After flowering

Prunus cerasifera & other prunus species

For showy fruits

Cut away most of leaders

 After fruiting if needed

Cotoneaster, pyracantha, Berberis spp.

For showy foliage

Prune 50% of growth’ feed and water

Winter to spring

Abutilon, Aucuba japonica-gold dust plant. Buxus.  Hebe, Euonymus.

Non flowering evergreen

Do not prune back beyond green foliage into older wood

Late winter

Conifers

If you don’t know what shrub or tree that you’ve got, the best advice is to wait until it flowers or sets fruit, and then prune after that.

In the case of philadelphus, as soon as the shrub had finished flowering, cut out all of the stems which have just flowered.

Prune them back to around a third of their length. They will soon start to produce new stems which will provide the flowering stems for next year. Don’t just prune little bits off the end 

If you have any questions for me or for Jason, please write in to [email protected]

SPICE IT UP

Cinnamon and Cassia part 1

Most if not all, cooks or chefs would’ve used cinnamon in their cooking at some time or other.

However, most likely the powdered form was used mainly.

What about the cinnamon sticks? 

Cinnamomum zeylanicum

 

Is that where the powdered from comes from? 

 

If it's the bark of a tree, how does cinnamon get harvested?

Who rolls those sticks, is it by machine or by hand?

Let’s find out.

I'm talking with Ian Hemphill from www.herbies.com.au

There are two types of cinnamon, Sri  Lankan cinnamon or Cinnamomum zeylanicum, (pictured) and Cinnamomum cassia or just 'cassia."

They come from different trees and are grown in different countries.Cassia cinnamon is grown in China,  Japan and Vietnam.

Can you imagine all those cinnamon sticks that are from Sri Lanka, are all hand rolled by ‘cinnamon rollers.’

You will know be able to tell the difference between cinnamon and cassia.

The cinnamon scrolls have more rolls than cassia, and the cassia powder has quite a strong almost bitey flavour compared to the sweeter milder flavor or real cinnamon, if you test the powder on your tongue. 

  If you have any questions for me or for Ian, why not write in to [email protected] or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville 1675

SPICE IT UP

Cinnamon and Cassia part 1

Most if not all, cooks or chefs would’ve used cinnamon in their cooking at some time or other.

However, most likely the powdered form was used mainly.

What about the cinnamon sticks? 

Cinnamomum zeylanicum

 

Is that where the powdered from comes from? 

 

If it's the bark of a tree, how does cinnamon get harvested?

Who rolls those sticks, is it by machine or by hand?

Let’s find out.

I'm talking with Ian Hemphill from www.herbies.com.au

There are two types of cinnamon, Sri  Lankan cinnamon or Cinnamomum zeylanicum, (pictured) and Cinnamomum cassia or just 'cassia."

They come from different trees and are grown in different countries.Cassia cinnamon is grown in China,  Japan and Vietnam.

Can you imagine all those cinnamon sticks that are from Sri Lanka, are all hand rolled by ‘cinnamon rollers.’

You will know be able to tell the difference between cinnamon and cassia.

The cinnamon scrolls have more rolls than cassia, and the cassia powder has quite a strong almost bitey flavour compared to the sweeter milder flavor or real cinnamon, if you test the powder on your tongue. 

  If you have any questions for me or for Ian, why not write in to [email protected] or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville 1675

TALKING FLOWERS

Bluebells

There are English (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and spanish bluebells. (Hyacinthoides hispanica).

Family: Asparagaceae

Flowering in Spring, the bluebell is blue.  but, there are also bluebells that have a creamy colour or an off white hue and even pink.

It might not look like it but bluebells has six petals.  These petals are all fused up together forming a narrow bell shape.

The main differences between a Spanish bluebell and  English bluebell 

English bluebells flower on one side, Spanish bluebells flower on both sides of the stem.

English bluebell is stronger scented. Spanish bluebell has only a very slight scent.

Spanish bluebell grows well in full sun but English bluebells prefers at least partial shade.

Spanish bluebell flowers lift their heads towards the sun. English bluebells never do.

Superstitions:

Bluebells is a tool used for calling fairies.

“Ring” the bluebells like you would a normal bell and the fairies would come. But the downside is - if you actually hear it ring, it’s a superstition that someone that holds dear to your heart will die.

 In a vase.

Cut the bluebell stem straight across the base and place in shallow water in the vase. Any more water and the stems will soften and fall over.

Replace the water in the vase daily.

I'm talking with florist Mercedes Sarmini of www.floralgossip.com.au

TALKING FLOWERS

Bluebells

There are English (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and spanish bluebells. (Hyacinthoides hispanica).

Family: Asparagaceae

Flowering in Spring, the bluebell is blue.  but, there are also bluebells that have a creamy colour or an off white hue and even pink.

It might not look like it but bluebells has six petals.  These petals are all fused up together forming a narrow bell shape.

The main differences between a Spanish bluebell and  English bluebell 

English bluebells flower on one side, Spanish bluebells flower on both sides of the stem.

English bluebell is stronger scented. Spanish bluebell has only a very slight scent.

Spanish bluebell grows well in full sun but English bluebells prefers at least partial shade.

Spanish bluebell flowers lift their heads towards the sun. English bluebells never do.

Superstitions:

Bluebells is a tool used for calling fairies.

“Ring” the bluebells like you would a normal bell and the fairies would come. But the downside is - if you actually hear it ring, it’s a superstition that someone that holds dear to your heart will die.

 In a vase.

Cut the bluebell stem straight across the base and place in shallow water in the vase. Any more water and the stems will soften and fall over.

Replace the water in the vase daily.

I'm talking with florist Mercedes Sarmini of www.floralgossip.com.au