Cinnamon variety · Released variety
Sugandhini (ODC-130, C. verum)
Also known as Sugandhini, ODC-130, Eugenol-rich cinnamon, leaf oil variety
Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Research Station, Odakkali, Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala · Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) · 2000
Leaf-oil specialist: 94-96% eugenol content in leaf oil; 18 kg leaf yield per tree annually; 295-300 ml oil per tree per year. Targeted for essential oil, flavouring, and fragrance industries.
Key facts
| Type | Released variety |
|---|---|
| Origin | Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Research Station, Odakkali, Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala |
| Breeder / source | Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) |
| Year released | 2000 |
| Parentage | Elite accession ODC-130 from germplasm selection |
| Yield | 18 kg fresh leaves/tree/year; 295-300 ml essential oil per tree/year at 1.6% recovery on fresh weight |
| Tolerance | Well-adapted to Kerala's midland humid climate; suited to coconut intercropping; good disease resilience in high-rainfall zones |
| Distinctive features | Dwarf to semi-dwarf plant; very high eugenol leaf oil; minimal bark development. Recommended for plantation under coconut in open or spaced systems. |
| Grown in | Kerala (midlands: Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam districts); intercrop in coconut zones |
| Also known as | Sugandhini, ODC-130, Eugenol-rich cinnamon, leaf oil variety |
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.
Sugandhini (ODC-130, C. verum) in detail
Sugandhini is a leaf-oil specialist cinnamon released by Kerala Agricultural University in 2000, bred specifically for the eugenol-rich leaf oil sought by fragrance and flavouring makers.
Origin & story
Developed at the Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Research Station (AMPRS), Odakkali, under Kerala Agricultural University. The selection ODC-130 was released as Sugandhini in 2000 and entered KAU's Package of Practices as a high-eugenol, leaf-oil cinnamon.
How it grows
Dwarf to semi-dwarf growth with minimal bark development, yielding around 18 kg of leaf per tree annually. It is recommended for plantation under coconut in open or spaced systems, so growers can harvest leaf without sacrificing the main crop. As with cinnamon generally, it suits Kerala's warm, humid midlands and is propagated from seed sown in the monsoon or, for true-to-type plants, by cuttings and layering.
Quality & character
Leaf oil reaches 94-96% eugenol, with oil yield around 295 ml per tree per year. This high-eugenol chemotype sets it apart from bark-focussed varieties and gives the oil a spicy, clove-like aroma.
Why it matters to buyers
Eugenol-rich cinnamon leaf oil is used in fragrance compositions, baked goods and confectionery flavouring, dental products (where eugenol serves as a local antiseptic and analgesic), and cosmetics. The consistent high eugenol yield and compact plant habit make it well suited to smallholder growers in coconut-rich regions who can take leaf as a secondary harvest.
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
Today's cinnamon price
See the latest cinnamon rate, daily range and recent trend from verified mandi & auction sources.
Other cinnamon varieties
- Navashree (C. verum)
- Nithyashree (C. verum)
- YCD-1 (Yercaud cinnamon)
- PPI(C)1 (Pechiparai cinnamon)
- Konkan Tej
- 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
Buy clean, graded cinnamon from AroWest
AroWest is the spice & aromatics label of Western Crest Ventures LLP — hand-cleaned, sorted, sealed and traceable harvests from Idukki and the wider Western Ghats. Registered LLP · Udyam (MSME) · FSSAI · GST.