logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
4m 50s

Where does cinnamon come from?

American Public Media
About this episode

Cinnamon is used all over the world. It makes cookies, cakes, tea, and coffee taste and smell amazing, and it’s also used in lots of savory foods!But where does cinnamon come from…before it gets to the grocery store? We asked spice expert Pooja Bag to help us find the answer.


Got a question that’s flavoring your thoughts? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll bark up every tree until we find the answer!

Up next
Oct 8
We’re back! Brains On Universe has a new headquarters
We’re back! We’ve officially moved into our new headquarters! Come unpack with us and get a tour while we fill you in on some big news. Plus, new episodes of Brains On coming later this month and new Smash Boom and Forever Ago after that. If you want to support the show or drop u ... Show More
7m 30s
Jun 2025
A big update about Moment of Um and the Brains On Universe
We're moving the Brains On Universe Headquarters, and that means we have to stop putting out new episodes until we get settled. We know: not cool. But, our new home is going to be bigger and better and the absolute BEST. We can't wait until it's ready for you to visit.In the mean ... Show More
2m 56s
Jun 2025
How do braces work?
They come in cool colors, catch popcorn kernels and sometimes even have spacers - it’s braces! Ever wondered how braces magically straighten teeth? We asked Dr. ArNelle Wright - a real life dentist! - to help us break down the science of these tiny metal wonders.Bracing for a tou ... Show More
6m 19s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2020
Cinnamaldehyde: Chemistry in its element
How did a tree bark from Sri Lanka become one of the essential flavours of the festive season? We explore the history of cinnamon and the compound that gives it its distinctive taste and aroma   
7m 44s
Aug 27
Does cinnamon actually help with lowering blood sugar?
Let’s settle this cinnamon thing once and for all. In this episode, Jess looks at what the research really says about cinnamon and blood sugar, and how to use it in real life. You’ll learn about the different types of cinnamon, dosage ranges from studies, and why it’s helpful but ... Show More
5m 58s
Mar 2020
Colors
To what extent is color a physical thing in the physical world, and to what extent is it created in our minds? We start with Sir Isaac Newton, who was so eager to solve this very mystery, he stuck a knife in his eye to pinpoint the answer. Then, we meet a sea creature that sees a ... Show More
7 m
Jul 2017
Hot Buttered Popcorn...PEE?!?
How in the world does hot buttered popcorn smell so good? Where in the world can we find that smell in the wild? And what in the world does PEE have to do with it? Join Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas on an epic adventure to Southeast Asia for the latest who, what, when, where, why, how ... Show More
17m 45s
Nov 2024
Qu'est-ce que l'apithérapie ?
Le miel est une denrée magique, à tel point que certains l'utilisent pour se soigner, c'est de l'apithérapie.On fait tous de l'apithérapie sans trop le savoir. Quand on a mal à la gorge comme moi en ce moment, on a le réflexe de mettre du miel dans notre thé ou notre lait chaud e ... Show More
2m 10s
Aug 2024
Elementary | Hungry Traveler: Sichuan
We call it Szechuan, they call it Sichuan. Does Ants on a Tree really come with ants? Was it just a novelty dish? All just a joke on the American public? Well, now is your chance to find out. Learn about the Chinese cuisine embraced the world over: the hot and spicy Sichuan. And ... Show More
15m 17s
Jan 2025
Ep89 "Why do you love some flavors and not others?"
Why do you like the taste of things that your friend doesn't? Why do kids not like coffee but adults do? What does any of this have to do with smelling people’s armpits, whether women really synchronize their menstruation, whether your culture eats a lot of spicy foods, and how a ... Show More
35m 42s
Feb 2022
Where Does Peanut Butter Come From?
Where Does Peanut Butter Come From?  Join us today as we learn about the peanut and how it becomes that yummy peanut butter. Sources: Micucci, Charles. The Life and Times of the Peanut. Houghton Mifflin, 1997. Send us listener mail! Send an audio message: anchor.fm/inquisikids-da ... Show More
5m 50s
Aug 25
Spice science: exploring cinnamon’s role in blood sugar control
Cinnamon is a spice that has been used around the world for thousands of years. In addition to its use as a culinary ingredient, cinnamon contains bioactive compounds that have attracted attention for their potential health effects. One of these effects is how it can influence bl ... Show More
8m 26s
Nov 2024
Bernice and Papa Bear Bake Cookies 🐻 (Encore)
Bernice zooms into the house, super excited to tell Papa Bear all about her Math Test. But wait! What's that yummy smell? Oh, it's cookies baking in the oven! Yum! Papa Bear asks Bernice if she can help him bake some cookies to share, and she says of course. After they look for a ... Show More
20m 14s