Cinnamon variety · Released variety
YCD-1 (Yercaud cinnamon)
Also known as YCD-1, Yercaud selection, C. verum from Nilgiris
Horticultural Research Station, Yercaud, TNAU, Tamil Nadu · Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) · 1995
Exceptional bark recovery (35.3%); 'sweet and light pungent' quill profile; dual-use for bark and leaf harvest (19.2 regenerable shoots per harvest). Economically viable for 20 years.
Key facts
| Type | Released variety |
|---|---|
| Origin | Horticultural Research Station, Yercaud, TNAU, Tamil Nadu |
| Breeder / source | Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) |
| Year released | 1995 |
| Parentage | Open-pollinated seedling selection from Yercaud germplasm |
| Yield | 359.75 kg dry quills/hectare; 3,800 kg dried leaves/hectare |
| Tolerance | Drought tolerant; suited to 500-1,000 m elevation; good pest resilience |
| Distinctive features | Volatile oil 2.8% in quills, 3% in leaves. High regeneration capacity for coppicing every 18-24 months. Adapted to lower-rainfall areas than typical true cinnamon. |
| Grown in | Tamil Nadu (Yercaud, Nilgiris), southern Karnataka, pilot areas in Himachal Pradesh |
| Also known as | YCD-1, Yercaud selection, C. verum from Nilgiris |
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.
YCD-1 (Yercaud cinnamon) in detail
YCD-1 is a Cinnamomum verum selection from Yercaud with strong bark yield, suited to hill conditions and adapted to lower-rainfall areas than typical true cinnamon.
Origin & story
YCD-1 is a selection from the germplasm of open-pollinated seedlings at the Horticultural Research Station, Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, under TNAU. It was released for cultivation in 1995 (listed as 1996 in some TNAU records).
How it grows
Trees reach harvestable size by the third year and can be maintained economically for about 20 years, with coppicing every 18-24 months. The variety regenerates strongly, giving around 19.2 harvestable shoots per harvest. It is adapted to 500-1000 m elevation with roughly 1000-2000 mm annual rainfall and performs in lower-rainfall hill areas than standard true cinnamon. Reported dry bark yield is about 360 kg/ha with dried leaf yield around 3800 kg/ha.
Quality & character
Quills are described as sweet and light pungent. Volatile oil content is about 2.8% in bark and 3% in leaves. Bark recovery is reported at 35.3%, indicating efficient processing.
Why it matters to buyers
The 35.3% bark recovery reduces processing loss. Dual-use harvesting of bark and leaf spreads income, and the fast coppice regeneration allows replanting cycles without removing stumps. The variety suits buyers sourcing C. verum quills from Indian origins, including drier hill zones where standard true cinnamon is harder to grow.
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…
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Other cinnamon varieties
- Navashree (C. verum)
- Nithyashree (C. verum)
- 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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