Quick Answer:
Cinnamon form → Brewing time → Starting ratio → Better cup
- Choose sticks, chips, or powder based on your preference.
- Use a simple starting ratio for 8 oz (240 ml) and adjust to taste.
- Sticks offer a clean cup, chips brew faster, and powder is quickest.
- Use simple fixes to adjust strength, clarity, and flavor.
To make cinnamon tea, heat the water, add the cinnamon, let it steep, and strain before drinking. The method is simple, but the steeping time depends on the type of cinnamon you use because sticks, chips and powder release flavor at different speeds.
Cinnamon stick: 10 to 20 minutes
Cinnamon chips: 8 to 12 minutes
Cinnamon powder: 2 to 5 minutes
Cinnamon and water make a natural caffeine-free tea, so you can enjoy a cup at any time of day.
Most brewing guides focus on just one form of cinnamon. This guide puts sticks, chips and powder side by side, so you can brew with whatever you have and choose the starting amount and steeping time that work best for you.
Sticks, Chips or Powder: What Changes in the Cup?
Whole cinnamon sticks give you a clean, mild infusion and are easy to remove.
Cinnamon chips are small pieces of the same bark, so they release flavor faster than whole sticks and work well in an infuser.
Cinnamon powder disperses quickly and is easy to measure, but it can leave some sediment unless you strain it.
In short, go for sticks or chips if you prefer a cleaner cup. Choose powder when you want something quick and convenient.
How to Make Cinnamon Tea: The Basic Ratio
This easy cinnamon tea recipe makes one cup using cinnamon stick tea, the most common form. The variations below are adjusted from this basic ratio.
- Water: 8 oz (240 ml).
- Cinnamon: 1 stick, about 3 inches long.
- Heat: Bring the water and cinnamon stick to a boil in a covered saucepan, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
- Steep: Remove from the heat and let it sit, covered, for another 5 to 10 minutes.
- Strain: Pour the tea through a fine-mesh strainer into your mug.
- Scale up: For two cups, simply double the amount of water and cinnamon.
- Iced: Let the tea cool, then refrigerate it in a sealed jar and drink within three days.
Recommended Starting Ratios (per 8 oz cup)
| Cinnamon form | Starting amount | Water | Typical steep/brew time |
| Sticks | 1 three-inch stick | 8 oz (240 ml) | 10-min simmer, then 5–10 min steep |
| Chips | 1 to 2 teaspoons | 8 oz (240 ml) | 5–10 min steep |
| Powder | ½ to 1 teaspoon | 8 oz (240 ml) | 2–5 min, then strain |
Treat these as starting points. Recipes can vary, so start with a small amount and adjust to taste. If using cinnamon powder, try ½ to 1 teaspoon per cup. If using a cinnamon stick, breaking it in half can help release more flavor.
Quick Fixes for Common Cinnamon Tea Problems
Timing depends on the type of cinnamon form, so taste the tea at the shorter end of the suggested time first:
- Too weak: steep it for a few more minutes before adding more cinnamon.
- Too strong: add a little hot water to dilute it.
- Cloudy cup: Let the powder settle for a minute, then slowly pour the tea into your cup.
- Loose bits: Use a tea ball or French press to keep cinnamon pieces out of your cup.
- Second cup: Re-steep the cinnamon sticks or chips right away, then discard them.
- Iced tea: Let the tea cool, then refrigerate it in a sealed jar and drink within three days.
- Add-ins: Add a slice of lemon, ginger, or honey after straining.
How to Choose Cinnamon That Brews Well
Tea highlights the flavor of cinnamon, so these details matter.
- Species: Cassia has a bold, spicy flavor, while Ceylon is milder and sweeter. Both work well, so choose based on your taste. For more details, see our guide to how Ceylon and Cassia differ in stick and powder form. Ceylon quills are milder, so you may need an extra stick or a longer steep.
- Format: Cinnamon sticks are good for making several cups. Cinnamon chips work well for a single cup and are easy to strain, and powder is the quickest option.
- Aroma: Fresh cinnamon smells sweet and warm. A weak or dusty smell may mean the cinnamon is old.
- Freshness and packaging: Choose airtight packaging to help protect the flavor. Store cinnamon away from heat and light. See our cinnamon storage guide for more tips.
- Testing: Look for products that provide published lab results. Red Ape, for example, tests each batch and provides heavy-metal test results on its product pages. See how Red Ape cinnamon is lab tested.
Which Red Ape Product Fits Your Brew
Red Ape works directly with growers in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India.
Its Cassia cinnamon chips come from Sumatra, Indonesia. The chips are small pieces left over when cinnamon sticks are cut, usually about ¼ to ½ inch in size. The product page lists tea as one of the recommended uses. The product is certified Organic and Kosher, has a minimum 2.5% oil content, and includes a link to heavy metal test results.
The chips are a good choice for anyone who wants the flavor of cinnamon sticks with a shorter steeping time and easy straining.
Your Next Step
Choose the cinnamon form that works best for you, add it to your cart in the Red Ape shop, and make one cup using the ratio in the table.
Then adjust the amount in small steps – ½ teaspoon of powder or ½ stick at a time – until it tastes right.
If you are unsure where to start, choose cinnamon sticks or chips for a cleaner cup.
Shop Organic Cassia Cinnamon Chips – 1 lb
Prefer a different format? Pick the one that fits your routine:
- Cinnamon Sticks, 1.12oz Pack: whole sticks for simmering
- Ground Cassia Cinnamon, Wide Mouth Jar: easy-to-measure powder
- Ceylon Quills C4 Grade: mild, sweet whole quills from Sri Lanka
- Ginger Tea Bag Cut, Certified Organic: an add-in for your cup