- Cinnamon provides a sweet and spicy taste to teas, coffee, hot chocolate and a variety of baked goods, for a tasty burst with a nice scent, sprinkle some shavings on them. Cinnamon is the world's most popular baking spice. You'll recognize its familiar taste and aroma in cakes, cookies and pies, dumplings, puddings, pastries and ice cream. It's common in savory dishes too; soups, chutneys, catsup, pickles, squash, vinegar and meat glazes. These sticks may also be used as an air freshener and also possess therapeutic effects.