> Which spice comes from the bark of a tree?And the answer: cinnamon. Photo Credit: HealthlineGrown in parts of Asia and South America, cinnamon comesfrom the bark of a type of evergreen tree. Farmers first shave off the outerbark of the tree, and then shave off the inner bark, which is the cinnamonlayer. When cinnamon dries, it naturally curls up into little sticks.Cinnamon has been used by humans for thousands of years. As early as 2000 B.C.,cinnamon was reportedly used by Egyptians and Ancient Roman emperors. It's evenmentioned in the Old Testament as an ingredient in anointing oil. Thissought-after spice was carried across long and challenging land routes by Arabtraders to Europe, where it met great success. Its effective use as a meatpreservative bolstered its reputation, and soon it became a luxury good. In the Middle Ages, cinnamon was a status symbol. Middle class citizens inEurope sought cinnamon as a means of distinguishing themselves and proving theirupward mobility. However, to their chagrin, Arab traders kept a firm hold on thespice trade. Interestingly, they were able to keep the source of cinnamon asecret until the early 16th century. Traders spun wild and varying tales totheir merchants to maintain their monopoly on cinnamon and ensure the profit oftheir high price. It wasn't until 1518 that Portuguese traders discovered itsorigin and cinnamon became more widely available. Cinnamon has a number of health benefits. Its bark is loaded with antioxidantsand anti-inflammatories -- all good for fighting infection. Check out thisarticle [https://greatist.com/eat/healthy-cinnamon-recipes]for a few delicious(yet healthy!) recipe ideas.