Alba
Alba- Diameter
- 6 mm
- Quills/kg
- 45
- Foxing
- 10%
SLS 81:2021 reference
Ceylon cinnamon grades explained
Ceylon cinnamon is graded under SLS 81:2021 using three principal criteria: quill diameter, the number of 42-inch quills required to make one kilogram, and the permitted percentage of surface foxing.
Grade definitions
How the grade definitions work
Each value in the table is an official grade limit. Diameter alone does not determine the complete grade, and a grade limit is not a promise that every offered lot has a narrower diameter range.
A narrower measured range may be shown only for a verified current lot and will be labelled “Current selected lot.”
Official whole-quill grade reference
Alba is listed separately from the Continental, Mexican and Hamburg grade families. These values describe official limits, not current stock or a laboratory result for a specific lot.
| Grade | Family | Maximum diameter | Minimum 42-inch quills/kg | Maximum foxing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alba | Alba | 6 mm | 45 | 10% |
| C5 Extra Special | Continental | 8 mm | 33 | 10% |
| C5 Special | Continental | 10 mm | 30 | 10% |
| C5 | Continental | 12 mm | 27 | 15% |
| C4 | Continental | 16 mm | 22 | 15% |
| C3 | Continental | 18 mm | 20 | 20% |
| M5 Special | Mexican | 16 mm | 22 | 60% |
| M5 | Mexican | 18 mm | 20 | 60% |
| M4 | Mexican | 21 mm | 15 | 60% |
| H1 | Hamburg | 23 mm | 10 | 25% |
| H2 Special | Hamburg | 25 mm | 9 | 40% |
| H2 | Hamburg | 32 mm | 7 | 55% |
| H3 | Hamburg | 38 mm | 6 | 65% |
C5 Extra Special
Continental- Diameter
- 8 mm
- Quills/kg
- 33
- Foxing
- 10%
C5 Special
Continental- Diameter
- 10 mm
- Quills/kg
- 30
- Foxing
- 10%
C5
Continental- Diameter
- 12 mm
- Quills/kg
- 27
- Foxing
- 15%
C4
Continental- Diameter
- 16 mm
- Quills/kg
- 22
- Foxing
- 15%
C3
Continental- Diameter
- 18 mm
- Quills/kg
- 20
- Foxing
- 20%
M5 Special
Mexican- Diameter
- 16 mm
- Quills/kg
- 22
- Foxing
- 60%
M5
Mexican- Diameter
- 18 mm
- Quills/kg
- 20
- Foxing
- 60%
M4
Mexican- Diameter
- 21 mm
- Quills/kg
- 15
- Foxing
- 60%
H1
Hamburg- Diameter
- 23 mm
- Quills/kg
- 10
- Foxing
- 25%
H2 Special
Hamburg- Diameter
- 25 mm
- Quills/kg
- 9
- Foxing
- 40%
H2
Hamburg- Diameter
- 32 mm
- Quills/kg
- 7
- Foxing
- 55%
H3
Hamburg- Diameter
- 38 mm
- Quills/kg
- 6
- Foxing
- 65%
Selected Alba Quills
Selected Alba is a CeyQuills selection of Alba-grade quills chosen for greater visual consistency and straightness. It is an internal product selection, not a separate grade under SLS 81:2021. Availability and selection characteristics are confirmed for each lot.
Ceylon cinnamon and cassia
Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) commonly forms a multi-layered quill from thin pieces of inner bark, while common cassia varieties typically form a thicker, harder curl. A buyer needing species confirmation for powder or a particular lot should request appropriate testing.
Ceylon cinnamon is generally known for containing substantially less coumarin than common cassia varieties. Natural composition can vary, so a specific coumarin value should only be stated when supported by laboratory testing of the relevant lot.
Understand Ceylon vs cassia before comparing product forms and grade references.
Product information provided with quotations
Depending on the selected product and shipment requirements, quotations can include the grade, product form, quantity, packing, current lot information, processing period, origin details and available export documentation. Certifications and laboratory reports are provided only where applicable to the specific product or shipment.
SLSI pre-export quality certificates, where applicable, are issued for a specific consignment after inspection and testing; they are not automatic exporter-wide certification for every shipment.
Frequently asked questions
A quill is the rolled cinnamon stick itself, formed from many thin layers of inner bark. SLS 81:2021 grades them on maximum quill diameter, the number of 42-inch quills required to make one kilogram, and permitted surface foxing.
No. Selected Alba is a CeyQuills product selection within the official Alba grade, not a separate grade under SLS 81:2021.
Not in the way most buyers assume. Every grade in the standard is the same species, Cinnamomum verum, from the same bark. Grade describes the physical dimensions of the quill and its surface appearance, not purity or potency. Narrower grades cost more because more peeling and rolling work goes into each kilogram.
Foxing is the patchy brown discolouration that can appear on the surface of a quill. The standard sets a maximum permitted percentage per grade, from 10% on Alba and the finer Continental grades up to 65% on H3. It is a surface characteristic used for grading, not a measure of safety or species.
Mexican grades are graded primarily on size rather than surface appearance, so the standard permits up to 60% foxing against 15% for C4. An M4 quill is the same bark as a C4 quill, cut to a larger diameter and held to a looser appearance tolerance.
The standard counts how many whole quills of 42 inches are needed to make one kilogram. Because narrower quills weigh less, finer grades need more of them per kilogram: at least 45 for Alba against 15 for M4. It is the most reliable way to check a claimed grade on arrival.
It depends on how the cinnamon is used rather than on quality. Narrow, thin-walled quills such as Alba and C5 Special break and grind easily, which suits tea, infusions and home grinding. Wider quills such as C4 and M4 hold their shape through long simmering and are more economical per kilogram.
Ceylon cinnamon is generally known for containing substantially less coumarin than common cassia varieties. Natural composition can vary, so a specific coumarin value should only be stated when supported by laboratory testing of the relevant lot.