Where does cinnamon come from? And what is it? Foodie travels to Kerenci Valley on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia to witness how to harvest and dry this spice of oatmeals, raisin breads, apple desserts, mulled beverages, meat and rice dishes, and more. From Cassia Coop:

Cassia a.k.a Cinnamon is the bark of a tree. 85% of the cinnamon in today’s world market originates from Indonesia. Most of it grows in one unique area…

Mount Kerinci is the highest volcano in Indonesia, and the highest peak on the island of Sumatra. It is surrounded by cinnamon trees and the lush forest of Kerinci Seblat National Park, home to the endangered Sumatran Tiger. The fertile soils of the slopes of the Kerinci high valley are very suitable for growing cassia trees since it grows best at an altitude of between 800 to 1,500 meters. A tree needs to be at least 10 years old before it can be harvested.