Journal: planting cinnamon trees in Sumatra

A Challenging Climb

My journey starts in Padang, a major city on the western coast of the island of Sumatra. From there, I travel by car for 10 hours inland, to the centrally located Kerinci region. At the foot of Mount Kerinci, I pause briefly. Accompanied by an agronomist affiliated with our replanting project, I begin the ascent. Before we reach our destination, we continue part of the way through the rainforest on off-road motorbikes. We hike the final, denser stretch of forest on foot. Cinnamon trees grow best at altitudes between 800 and 1,200 meters. Despite the high humidity in the jungle, the temperature remains relatively moderate at this elevation.

My local partner, who specializes in tropical agriculture, takes me to areas that are suitable for our replanting initiative. In addition to soil research, he assesses light intensity and water availability—everything needed to help a new cinnamon tree thrive.

King Cassia

At our destination, we connect with local farmers who manage the land. Many are already participating in the replanting program. They jokingly call me "King Cassia”. Not because I act like royalty – far from it – but simply because, as a Dutchman, I quite literally stand out. I’ve been visiting this region for over a decade, and Royal Polak Spices has been connected to this area for nearly 60 years. We’ve built a strong foundation of trust, and since 2024 we’ve been working closely together on the replanting program.

Sustainability

Sustainability is gaining importance here in Indonesia as well. Only recently has the government started supporting sustainability initiatives, partly due to the rising global demand for cinnamon. The Cassia trees in Kerinci grow in the heart of a national park, with a protected nature reserve close by. By supporting farmers through replanting programs, we help prevent illegal logging in protected areas.

From Berry to Tree

We collect the berries that fall from cinnamon trees and plant them in 'nurseries,' where they are given the space and optimal conditions to grow. A cassia tree takes approximately ten years before it can be harvested, requiring a significant investment from farmers.

At Royal Polak Spices, we give farmers young cinnamon trees to plant and guarantee payment upon harvest. Think of it as a kind of savings account—with a good return on investment.

The agronomist from our partner provides each farmer with training: how to ensure that each young tree matures under ideal conditions. He also teaches best practices for harvesting. The optimal approach is to cut the tree approximately 50 centimeters above the ground, allowing new shoots to sprout from the existing root system. This results in a deeply rooted tree—beneficial for the soil and, even more importantly, for the flavor.

Towards 100%

In 2024, we started by planting 30,000 cinnamon trees. This year, another 60,000 will follow. Our goal is to have replanted one new cinnamon tree for every tree harvested for Royal Polak Spices, by 2027. And to continue this circular approach for years to come. Together, we aim to ensure sustainable Cassia cultivation, preserve biodiversity, contribute to CO₂ offsetting, provide farmers with income security, and deliver the highest quality Cassia cinnamon to our customers. With the dedication of our farming partners in Kerinci, we are confident we’ll reach our goal of 120,000 trees—and beyond.

Curious to learn more about our replanting initiative—or looking to support it? Take a look at our Sustainability page.