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Cassia vs Ceylon Cinnamon: Telling Them Apart Before You Buy
Cassia vs Ceylon cinnamon comes down to species and coumarin. Cassia is the common, cheaper cinnamon and contains coumarin. Ceylon, or true cinnamon, is generally described as lower in it. Sticks and powders look different, but a capsule label often hides the species. The Reviralis label says only "cinnamon bark extract."
Written by the Goreviralis label deskUpdated · 4 min read
What is the difference between cassia and Ceylon cinnamon?
They come from different trees. Cassia is the cinnamon in most supermarket jars. Ceylon, sold as "true cinnamon," comes from a different species and costs more.
The reason people care is coumarin. NCCIH says cassia contains coumarin (NCCIH, Cinnamon). Ceylon is generally described as holding far less, though the cited source does not give a number, so none is stated here.
| Trait | Cassia | Ceylon |
|---|---|---|
| Common name | Cassia, often just "cinnamon" | True cinnamon |
| Where you find it | Most grocery jars | Specialty shops, labeled |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
| Coumarin | Present (NCCIH) | Generally described as lower |
| Stick look | Thick, dark red-brown, one hard curl | Thin, tan, many soft layers |
How can you tell cassia from Ceylon cinnamon?
For whole sticks, look at the layers. For powder and capsules, you usually cannot, and you have to rely on the label or the seller.
- Sticks: Ceylon rolls into thin, fragile layers like a cigar; cassia is one thick, hard curl.
- Color: Ceylon is lighter tan; cassia is darker reddish brown.
- Label: look for a Latin name or the word "Ceylon" or "true cinnamon."
- Price: very cheap cinnamon is almost always cassia.
A ground powder from either one looks like brown dust. A capsule hides even that.
Which cinnamon is in Reviralis?
The label does not say. It lists "cinnamon bark extract," 13th of 18 names in a 661 mg blend, with no species and no amount.
US rules list blend members from most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36), so the 13th name can hold at most 661 divided by 13, or 50.85 mg per serving. The real amount may be lower. Because the species is unnamed, nobody can tell from the bottle whether coumarin is a factor.
"Is the cinnamon bark extract in this blend cassia or Ceylon, and can you send that in writing?" Use the order desk or [email protected].
The full coumarin picture is in the cassia and coumarin post.
Reviralis: from $49 a bottle60 capsules a bottle · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 and 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsWho should care most about the difference?
People with liver conditions, people who use cinnamon daily in large amounts and people taking medicines that stress the liver.
The same blend names green tea leaf extract, which NCCIH links to liver injury (NCCIH, Green Tea). The label asks you to consult your healthcare provider before use if you are pregnant or nursing, have a medical condition, have a history of seizures, or take prescription medicine.
Keep taking prescribed medicine, including any antiviral. Get care for yellow skin or eyes or dark urine. Call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat.
Does the cinnamon matter for buying Reviralis?
It is one small unknown among several. Weigh it with the rest of the label.
Read the ingredients page, the blend math and the medicine check. For another blend name with a caution, see licorice root. No source tested Reviralis, and none ties cinnamon to herpes.
FAQ01
Reviralis questions people ask
Is Ceylon cinnamon better than cassia?
Ceylon is generally described as lower in coumarin and costs more. For people concerned about coumarin, that is the point. Neither is shown to treat any disease.
Does cassia cinnamon have coumarin?
Yes. NCCIH states that cassia cinnamon contains coumarin, a compound of concern for the liver at high intakes in sensitive people.
How do I know which cinnamon is in a supplement?
Check the label for the Latin name or the words Ceylon or true cinnamon. If the species is not named, ask the seller in writing.
Is cinnamon from the grocery store cassia?
Usually, yes. Most low-cost jars are cassia. Ceylon is typically sold in specialty shops and labeled as such.
Which cinnamon is in Reviralis?
The label says only cinnamon bark extract. It does not name the species or print an amount, so it is unknown.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, CDC, FDA, FTC, Mayo Clinic and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a U.S. stocking partner for Reviralis. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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