Cinnamon variety · Released variety
Nithyashree (C. verum)
Also known as IISR Nithyashree, Elite true cinnamon
Indian Institute of Spices Research (ICAR-IISR), Kozhikode, Kerala · ICAR-IISR · 1996
High-eugenol leaf oil specialist (78% leaf eugenol vs 62% in Navashree); 3% leaf oil content; bark cinnamaldehyde 58%. Valuable for dual quill and leaf oil markets.
Key facts
| Type | Released variety |
|---|---|
| Origin | Indian Institute of Spices Research (ICAR-IISR), Kozhikode, Kerala |
| Breeder / source | ICAR-IISR |
| Year released | 1996 |
| Parentage | Seedling selection from Indian cinnamon germplasm |
| Yield | 200 kg dry quills/hectare; 300+ kg/ha reported in optimal conditions |
| Tolerance | Resilient under varied agro-climatic conditions; shows good pest and disease stability |
| Distinctive features | Similar growth habit to Navashree; purple young flush; excellent bark oleoresin (10%, higher than Navashree). Oil recovery favourable for leaf harvest. |
| Grown in | Kerala (midlands and high-altitude areas), Tamil Nadu, Karnataka test plots |
| Also known as | IISR Nithyashree, Elite true cinnamon |
Figures are indicative, compiled from public agricultural sources (ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, the Spices Board and the National Innovation Foundation) and vary with soil, season and management. Confirm with your local package of practices.
Nithyashree (C. verum) in detail
Released in 1996 as a high-eugenol specialist, Nithyashree is valued for dual-market potential: high-eugenol leaf oil for fragrance and related uses, alongside quality bark quills for the spice trade.
Origin & story
Developed at the Indian Institute of Spices Research (ICAR-IISR), Kozhikode, Kerala, and released in 1996. IISR selected two elite true-cinnamon lines, Navashree and Nithyashree, with Nithyashree chosen for its high leaf-eugenol profile.
How it grows
Like true cinnamon generally, Nithyashree suits the warm, humid conditions of the Western Ghats across Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, grown in well-drained sandy loam or lateritic soils. The variety has a growth habit similar to Navashree and shows a distinctive purple young flush.
Quality & character
Leaf oil content around 3% with exceptionally high eugenol at 78% (versus 62% in the similar Navashree); bark cinnamaldehyde 58%; bark oleoresin about 10%, higher than Navashree. The favourable leaf oil recovery and strong bark oleoresin position it for both whole-quill and oleoresin-extraction markets.
Why it matters to buyers
Buyers value Nithyashree for its dual use: eugenol-rich leaf oil is sought in perfumery, cosmetics, and related industrial uses, while quality bark quills serve the culinary spice market. The high-eugenol leaf oil is its main point of differentiation from standard quill-only varieties.
About cinnamon
Cinnamon in India spans two botanical worlds: true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), the rare, delicate quill-spice prized for low coumarin and high cinnamaldehyde, thrives in Kerala's Western Ghats from ancient plantings in Kannur and Kottayam; and cassia—Chinese (C. cassia), Indonesian (C. burmannii), Vietnamese (C. loureiroi)—cheaper and peppery, now grown…
Live market rate
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Other cinnamon varieties
- Navashree (C. verum)
- YCD-1 (Yercaud cinnamon)
- PPI(C)1 (Pechiparai cinnamon)
- Konkan Tej
- Sugandhini (ODC-130, C. verum)
- True Cinnamon / Cinnamomum verum (botanical type)
- Cassia / Cinnamomum cassia (botanical type)
- Cinnamomum burmannii (Indonesian/Korintje cassia)
- Cinnamomum loureiroi (Saigon cinnamon, Vietnamese cinnamon)
From the Western Ghats
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