Cinnamon - a wondrous spice or not your thing?

[Mark Lipton]

Interesting. That perhaps explains people who are allergic to nutmeg but not the others (I know a few).

A Malaysian former student of mine once came back with a package of dried nutmeg fruit, which he later confessed he couldn't stand, for me to try. It was like chewing on a rag soaked in lemon pledge and Pine-Sol. It took me about a day to get the smells out of my sinuses.

Mark Lipton

[Hoke]

Interesting. That perhaps explains people who are allergic to nutmeg but not the others (I know a few).

A Malaysian former student of mine once came back with a package of dried nutmeg fruit, which he later confessed he couldn't stand, for me to try. It was like chewing on a rag soaked in lemon pledge and Pine-Sol. It took me about a day to get the smells out of my sinuses.

Mark Lipton

But did it increase your virility and stamina as he had promised?

[Bill Spohn]

I flat out do not eat desserts or sweet rolls etc., but I still love cinnamon - especially with meats! You get an exotic effect if you use just enough but not too much!

[Jeff Grossman/NYC]

Interesting. That perhaps explains people who are allergic to nutmeg but not the others (I know a few).

A Malaysian former student of mine once came back with a package of dried nutmeg fruit, which he later confessed he couldn't stand, for me to try. It was like chewing on a rag soaked in lemon pledge and Pine-Sol. It took me about a day to get the smells out of my sinuses.

Mark Lipton

But did it increase your virility and stamina as he had promised?

Is that even possible?

[Jenise]

As an undergraduate, she had to isolate eugenol (clove oil) from cloves by an old technique known as steam distillation. She hasn't been able to tolerate the smell of cloves since that time, except in apple cider at Christmas time. (In a comparable experience, I had to isolate cinnamaldehyde from cinnamon, but thought that it was a wonderful experience -- go figger)

Mark Lipton

I sympathize! When I finally reached adulthood and had all eight of my upper front teeth capped to match (lost the center two to a swinging door when I was 12), the dentist applied clove oil as a "soothing" local analgesic (sp?) on the bare gums under the temps. That clove flavor kept up a slow leak for weeks. It's taken me 20 years to get over that!

[Hoke]

As an undergraduate, she had to isolate eugenol (clove oil) from cloves by an old technique known as steam distillation. She hasn't been able to tolerate the smell of cloves since that time, except in apple cider at Christmas time. (In a comparable experience, I had to isolate cinnamaldehyde from cinnamon, but thought that it was a wonderful experience -- go figger)

Mark Lipton

I sympathize! When I finally reached adulthood and had all eight of my upper front teeth capped to match (lost the center two to a swinging door when I was 12), the dentist applied clove oil as a "soothing" local analgesic (sp?) on the bare gums under the temps. That clove flavor kept up a slow leak for weeks. It's taken me 20 years to get over that!

Yuyhn huh, that clove oil is particularly pungent and memorable, and a little bit stays with you for a long time. Had a childhood experience when I had a toothache and couldn't get to a dentist quickly so the dentist prescribed a small vial of clove oil (lessens the pain intensity to a degree). As you said, that sense-memory stays with you for a long time. I still like clove, but I like it in very small doses. And I'm more fond of allspice now.

Hey, remember the clove-flavored gum that used to be widely available?

[Jeff Grossman/NYC]

Hey, remember the clove-flavored gum that used to be widely available?

Yup. Can you tolerate the smell of clove cigarettes?

[Frank Deis]

I think you can still buy that, and other old fashioned gum flavors, from the VT Country Store

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[Mark Lipton]

Hey, remember the clove-flavored gum that used to be widely available?

Yup. Can you tolerate the smell of clove cigarettes?

I just saw some for sale today, as a matter of fact (the gum, that is). And Djarums were and are particularly repellant to me but then I hate the smell of cigarettes and cigars in general.

Mark Lipton
(and don't even get me started about perfume, especially at wine tastings)

[Hoke]

Clove cigarettes? Nah, was always repelled by them. Mostly smell, but also the pretentious and affected attitude that seemed to be required of those smoking them.

The gum...one stick of that every six months or so would be enough for me, if I chewed gum anymore.

I like clove, but as Jenise said, those things are best in very limited moderation.

[Frank Deis]

I remember Sher Bidi cigarettes from India. Were those the ones that had cloves? I think at least sometimes they didn't, because I smoked a few back in 1968 or so and I don't think I would have done that if they had cloves. Bidi cigarettes had a pinch of tobacco surrounded by a dried leaf and tied with a piece of thread...

[Mark Lipton]

I remember Sher Bidi cigarettes from India. Were those the ones that had cloves? I think at least sometimes they didn't, because I smoked a few back in 1968 or so and I don't think I would have done that if they had cloves. Bidi cigarettes had a pinch of tobacco surrounded by a dried leaf and tied with a piece of thread...

They told you that was tobacco in them, Frank???

Mark Lipton

[Frank Deis]

Mark, maybe you had access to different Bidis? From the taste I think it was tobacco, and I would have known the difference...

By the way, the other day I was reminded of another thing that makes cinnamon a "wondrous spice."

Not to get into the details but Google the phrase "warming oil" -- something to do with massage.