Commercial Export Syndicate

Ceylon Cinnamon

Cinnamon is one of the highly prized spices that have been in use since biblical times for its medicinal and culinary properties. It is obtained from the inner bark of a tropical evergreen tree belonging to the family of Lauraceae or laurel within the genus; Cinnamomum. They are harvested during the rainy season when pliable and then dried into curls to be sold as sticks, commercially known as “quill” or ground into a powder. Since the spice is a native to the Sri Lankan island; they are popularly known as the Ceylon cinnamon or True cinnamon. Sri Lanka is a world provider of the best and choicest grades of cinnamon.

• 4C

  This type of cinnamon is fine, yellow in colour and fetches a good price in the international market.

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  Max diameter : 16mm

• 4M

  This type of cinnamon comprises of selected sections of fine cinnamon.

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  Max diameter : 21mm

• 5C

  This type of cinnamon is slim and golden yellow colour with sweet taste.

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  Max diameter : 12mm

• 5C Special

  This type of cinnamon has excellent shape, colour, taste and very high demand.

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  Max diameter : 10mm

True cinnamon has a very thin smooth bark with a light-yellowish brown colour, releases a highly fragrant aroma and has a subtle flavour compared to its relative cassia. It is less sweet, with a more complex, citrus flavour. The pungent taste and scent in cinnamon spice are due to compound cinnamic aldehyde and cinnamaldehyde in the oil. They are available all around the year.

• 5M

  This grade consists of thin sticks of cinnamon. Rough in appearance and brown in colour.

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  Max diameter : 18mm

• Alba

  Alba Cinnamon has the fragrance of orange blossom and cinnamon. This cinnamon is the highest quality grown in Sri Lanka, which produces 90% of the world's supply. Each piece is picked and rolled by hand.

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  Max diameter : 6mm

• Cinnamon Powder

  Used as a food preparation ingredient and a medicine. It can be supplied in any Mesh size.

• Cut Cinnamon

  Specially selected and 8 individually packed cut pieces of cinnamon of any grade are called cut cinnamon.

This spice has many beneficial properties and they are as follows:

Cinnamon's normalizing effect on blood sugar levels can help people with type 2 diabetes, as it enhances a positive response to insulin. Helps to lower cholesterol. It has shown to be a very potent anti-microbial spice. It has the capacity to inhibit the formation and proliferation of bacteria, yeast and fungi matter. The chemical Cinnamaldehyde present in cinnamon-sticks has been found to have anti-clotting action, prevents platelet clogging inside the blood vessels, and thereby helps prevent stroke, peripheral arterial and coronary artery diseases. This spicy bark is an excellent source of minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc, and magnesium.

• H1

  This grade comprises the finest and the most expensive portions of the rough cinnamon bark.

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  Max diameter : 23mm

• H2 FAQ

  This grade of cinnamon has approximately 40% of the less hard portions of H2 grade.

• H2

  This grade consists of about 90% of golden yellow cinnamon sticks of good quality.

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  Max diameter : 32mm

• No 1 Quillings

  This grade consists of slightly larger quillings which are obtained in the process of cutting and baling cinnamon.

Black Pepper

Pepper is often called the “king of spices,” is the oldest and the most frequently used spice in the world as it adds an excellent depth of flavour to all kinds of dishes. Black, white, and green peppercorns all come from the same shrub (Piper nigrum); the difference in their colour is a reflection of the varying stages of development and processing methods. Black and white pepper contains two main components, the volatile oil and the pungent components, commonly known as piperine.

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Black peppercorns are left on the perennial woody vine to fully mature and develop a stronger flavour profile. The corns are wrinkled and spherical, about 5 mm (1/8 in) in diameter. Black pepper is the most pungent and flavourful of all types of peppers and it is available as whole or cracked peppercorns or ground into powder.

The benefits of using pepper are as follows: ` Black pepper is an excellent source of manganese, vitamin K, copper, dietary fiber, iron, chromium, and calcium. It has impressive antioxidant effects that helps protect the skin against symptoms of premature ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots. The antibacterial properties of pepper are used for treating respiratory disorders. Promotes the health of the digestive tract. It stimulates the breakdown of fat cells, keeping you slim while giving you the energy to burn.

Grades available @ CES: Whole pepper 500, 525, 550 GL Whole pepper extraction grade or light berries below 400 G/L

Cloves

Cloves are dried flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae and are prized as spices because of their warm, sweet and aromatic taste. Clove flower buds are harvested before they blossom, are pinkish in colour and then dried. One tree yields about a seven-pound harvest. Although cloves have a very hard exterior, their flesh features an oily compound that is essential to their nutritional and flavour profile. 85% of cloves' powerful taste is imparted by the chemical eugenol. Whole cloves are popular in cooking meats, pickling fruit and making syrups, while ground clove is used for baking, in perfumes, and for medicinal purposes, particularly for the relief of toothaches. Ceylon cloves are the finest cloves available as they are hand-picked and selected for size and perfection.

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Health benefits of Cloves: The active principles in the clove help to relieve indigestion and constipation problems. It also contains a good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, selenium and magnesium. The spice buds contains sufficient amounts of vitamin A and beta-carotene levels. These compounds are known to have antioxidant properties. It is a good source of vitamin K and vitamin C which helps the body to develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals. Eugenol, the primary component of clove's volatile oils, functions as an anti-inflammatory substance.

Grades accessible @ CES: Cloves Handpicked Cloves Grade 1 We also provide clean and premium quality clove stems

Nutmeg

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Known as a popular spice around the world, nutmeg is also popular for its many health benefits. In fact, since ancient times, nutmeg has been used as a remedy for various ailments or to improve health in general.

Brain Tonic Pain Relief Relief from Indigestion Bad Breath Treatment Liver and Kidney Detox Skin Care Sleep Aid

Mace

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Mace is a spice made from the waxy red covering that surrounds nutmeg seeds. The flavor is similar to that of nutmeg, with a hint of pepper and a more subtle note which can be overwhelmed by heavy-handed cooks. It is readily available in many cooking supply stores in both whole and ground form, and it has a wide range of uses from desserts to savory roast meats. The versatile flavor can make mace a useful spice to have around, especially since many recipes call for it.

Sesame Seeds (White, mixed with white & black)

Sesame plant is a tall annual herb of the Pedaliaceae family which grows to about 5 feet tall and bears plenty of pink-white foxglove type flowers. The pods appear soon containing white, brown, or black seeds depending up on the cultivar type, arranged in rows inside. Each pod (2-5 cm in length) is a long rectangular box like capsule with deep grooves on its sides. A single pod (1 to 3 inches in length) may contain up to 100 or more seeds. Sesame seeds are tiny, almost oblate in shape featuring a pleasant nutty flavour and high oil content. Sesame seeds are thought to be one of the oldest condiments, and so appealing that they became an integral part of varied cuisines. They are also used in traditional medicines for their nutritive, preventive, and curative properties. Its oil seeds are sources for some phyto-nutrients such as omega-6 fatty acids, flavonoid phenolic anti-oxidants, vitamins and dietary fiber with potent anti-cancer as well as health promoting properties.

Garcinia Cambogia (Goraka)

Garcinia cambogia is a small, pumpkin-shaped fruit, sometimes called Assam fruit. Brindle berry, gambooge and tamarind are other common names. The fruit is usually yellow or green in colour, but some trees produce orange or red fruits. Garcinia cambogia trees thrive in the warm and moist climates of tropical forests, hence the best produces can be cultivated in Sri Lanka. Garcinia cambogia fruit has a sour flavour and the rind of a dried fruit produces a flavourful, spicy extract that is popular in traditional cooking. The extract is also used to cure and preserve foods. The principal ingredient in Garcinia cambogia extract is hydroxycitric acid which has been found to suppress the fatty acid synthesis, lipogenesis, food intake, and promotes glycogenesis, gluconeogenesis and induce weight loss. Garcinia cambogia extract has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine and other traditional healing systems. As an herbal remedy, it is a useful treatment for constipation and other intestinal disorders, menstruation problems, intestinal parasites, rheumatism and edema. Gorakka is purported to aid in weight loss and this factor has gained the fruit a lot of popularity.

Ceylon Tea (Black & Green Tea)

Sri Lanka is one of the largest producer and exporter of tea in the world. Ceylon tea has been the ‘official tea supplier’ for many world class events; hence tea production is one of the main sources of foreign exchange for the country. The country’s ideal climatic conditions favoured the production of high quality tea which has gained popularity worldwide. The main tea cultivation areas are in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula, Ruhuna, Uda Pussellawa and Uva. Ceylon tea grows from almost sea level to 7000 ft. The climate of Sri Lanka varies according to its locality which has a marked effect on the flavour and quality of tea. Sri Lankan tea with its distinct taste and character has become every consumer’s favourite cuppa.

Sri Lankan Coffee Beans

Coffee is a brewed beverage prepared from the roasted seeds of several species of an evergreen shrub of the genus Coffea. The two most common sources of coffee beans are the highly regarded Coffea arabica, and the "robusta" form of the hardier Coffea canephora. Even though Sri Lanka tea is famous, in the first half of 1800s Sri Lanka coffee was said to be superior to the coffee of Java and was almost on par with Arabia where the plants first originated.

Cinnamon Bark Oil

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Cinnamon bark oil possesses the delicate aroma of the spice and a sweet and pungent taste, obtained from the bark of a Sri Lankan tree of the genus Cinnamomum (C. zeylanicum). Its major constituent is cinnamaldehyde but other, minor components impart the characteristic odour and flavour. It has a consistency of thin to medium. Cinnamon bark contains approximately 41-51% aldehydes. The oil is extracted from the bark using steam distillation.

The benefits of using this oil are as follows: The oils found in cinnamon bark helps to reduce spasms, reduce gas (flatulence), and stimulate the appetite. Cinnamon bark also contains a chemical that might work like insulin to lower blood sugar. The oil contains antiseptic properties that could be perfect in topical applications and with its pleasant scent, a perfect additive to creams, lotions, and soaps. The presence of the ingredient tannins in cinnamon bark may help heal wounds by acting as an astringent.

Cinnamon Leaf Oil

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Cinnamon leaf oil has a warm, spicy, but rather harsh odour; the oil's colour varies from yellow for the leaf oil and red-brown for the bark oil, which is not usually used in aromatherapy. The viscosity is medium to watery. The main chemical components of the essential oil, obtained from the leaves, are eugenol, eugenol acetate, cinnamic aldehyde and benzyl benzoate. The method used to extract the oil from the leaves is steam distillation and it yields 1.6%-1.8% oil.

The usage of the cinnamon leaf oil is beneficial in the following ways: The oil contains a variant of eugenol which helps to reduce gastrointestinal problems like nausea and upset stomachs. Cinnamon leaf oil acts as an insect repellent and has been found to be very effective in killing mosquito larvae. Cinnamon leaf essential oil balances body chemicals, and aids the transmission of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. The leaf also reduces the symptoms of other mental related ailments like depression, anxiety, mental tension and nervousness. It also has some anti-inflammatory properties and acts as a natural pain reliever.

Sesame Oil / Gingerly Oil

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Sesame Seed oil originates from the Sesamum indicum plant. The plant's seeds are pressed to obtain the pale yellow oil, which contains fatty acids that can work to protect your skin. Its major chemical constituents include Linoleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Oleic Acid, Stearic Acid, Vitamins C, E&K, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, Sodium etc. Sesame oil is often used for cooking purposes because it is constituted by 41% of unsaturated fats and it also enhances foods with natural flavours and aromas found only in sesame seeds.

There are numerous health benefits of the sesame oil and they are as follows: Lowers Cholesterol - The properties of sesame seed oil are very effective in maintaining and correcting the cholesterol levels in our body. Skin care - Sesame oil has a rich source of vitamins, hence when added to skin care products such as sunscreens, skin cleansers, lipstick and moisturizers has the ability to nourish the skin and keep it hydrated. The oil when applied forms a barrier on the skin’s surface and protects it against harsh conditions. Regular body massages with the oil is good to preserve the skin. Anti Oxidant - The existence of anti oxidant properties in the oil slows down the ageing process by preventing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. The combination of various minerals, especially copper, makes this oil effective in treating patients with Arthritis. Other therapeutic properties present in the sesame oil makes it useful for hair care, treating anti bacterial infections, stress management and controlling blood pressure.