Cinnamon Is a Hero of Holiday Spices. Here Are Some Unexpected Health Benefits Emily Shiffer The holiday season is upon us, which means we’ve shifted our obsession from pumpkin spice to cinnamon. From festive drinks to flavored foods, you might notice the spice added to at least one of your favorite holiday dishes. “Cinnamon is an aromatic spice that comes from the dried bark of the cinnamomum tree,” says Robin Foroutan, M.S., RDN, and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “There are two main kinds of cinnamon: ceylon cinnamon, aka true cinnamon, and cassia cinnamon (less expensive and commonly used in processed food).”