cassia

[kash-uh, kas-ee-uh]

noun

1. Also called cassia bark;. Also called Chinese cinnamon. a variety of cinnamon derived from the cassia-bark tree.

2. any of numerous plants, trees, and shrubs belonging to the genus Cassia, of the legume family, several species of which yield medicinal products.

3. Also called cassia pods. the pods of Cassia fistulosa, a tree widely cultivated as an ornamental.

4. Also called cassia pulp. the pulp of these pods, used medicinally and as a flavoring.

cassia

/ ˈkæsɪə /

noun

1. any plant of the mainly tropical leguminous genus Cassia, esp C. fistula, whose pods yield cassia pulp , a mild laxative See also senna

2. a lauraceous tree, Cinnamomum cassia, of tropical Asia

3. the cinnamon-like bark of this tree, used as a spice

Word History and Origins

Origin of cassia¹

before 1000; Middle English cas ( s ) ia, Old English < Latin < Greek kas ( s ) ía < Semitic; compare Hebrew qəṣīʿāh

Word History and Origins

Origin of cassia¹

Old English, from Latin casia, from Greek kasia, of Semitic origin; related to Hebrew qesī `āh cassia

Example Sentences

Cinnamon is made from the bark of two trees: Cinnamomum verum for cinnamon sticks and Cinnamomum cassia for ground cinnamon.

From Salon

She boiled cassia pods to make a thin, unsatisfying soup, and roasted spongy, tasteless water-lily bulbs.

From Literature

Kent Augustine, who is picking up a loaf on his way to work, says the use of local cassia and tamarind wood gives it a unique flavour.

From BBC

Rumi also offers a selection of blends featuring these spices, such as baharat, a Middle Eastern spice blend that includes the company’s black cumin along with black pepper, cassia, nutmeg, paprika, coriander, cardamom and clove.

From Washington Post

Coumarin is a compound that is naturally found in cassia cinnamon bark.

From Seattle Times