Species: Cinnamomum verum Other names: sweet cinnamon, true cinnamon Appearance: The thin, multi-layered bark of true cinnamon is most often a redish brown. The bark is curled in on itself as it is dried and cured. The ground Ceylon Cinnamon is light brown, with a slight tint of red. Typically used: The dried bark is used whole or powdered, and the twigs and leaves are distilled into an essential oil. Origin: Ceylon cinnamon is cultivated from the inner bark of the evergreen tree, Cinnamomum verum. Native to Sri Lanka (formerly called Ceylon), Bangladesh, Burma, and the south-eastern coast of India, the spice has been considered a gift fit for gods and has been traded for centuries.