How to Heat Cinnamon in Water

Use cinnamon bark as a natural alternative to store-bought air fresheners or scented candles.

Cinnamon sticks are actually the bark of the cinnamon tree. When the bark is dried, it naturally rolls up into the common tubular shape that we are accustomed to. There are more than 100 varieties of cinnamon, but the two most common are cassia and and ceylon cinnamon. Cinnamon can be heated in water for drinking as tea, for culinary purposes, or as a natural air freshener for your home. For best results, purchase high quality, fresh cinnamon sticks from your local herb and plant supplier. Does this Spark an idea?

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Stove or burner of some sort
Pot
Water
Cinnamon Sticks

Instructions

- 1
  
  Purchase some cinnamon sticks from your local grocery store, your local herb store or tea shop.
- 2
  
  Set some water to boil in a pot on your stove or a burner of some sort. Let it heat for at least five to 10 minutes, or until the water is simmering.
- 3
  
  Place the cinnamon sticks into the water. You can break up the sticks by hand to make them more potent. Let it boil for at least five minutes, or until the water turns a reddish-brown color. You only need two or three sticks. This will freshen up your home.
- 4
  
  Drink the cinnamon water as tea, or save it for culinary baking purposes.

Tips & Warnings

Cinnamon sticks can be heated in water repeatedly. Thus, as an air freshener or culinary ingredient, they are very cost-efficient.
Combine the cinnamon bark with other ingredients such as cloves or citrus rind. These combinations work both as tea and as an air freshener.
Never leave your stove on if you are away from the house.