Cinnamon toothpick
| Type | Confectionery |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Created by | August T. Baden |
| Main ingredients | Toothpicks, oleoresin of cinnamon or cinnamon extract |
Cinnamon toothpicks are wooden toothpicks, round with one or two pointed ends, that have been soaked in oleoresin of cinnamon or cinnamon extract, then dried. Sometimes sweeteners and other flavoring ingredients are added. The wooden toothpicks used in America are typically cut from birch wood. Bamboo toothpicks are becoming increasingly popular due to its short growth cycle and carbon footprint reduction.
The toothpicks can be used to aid in smoking cessation, to curb snacking between meals, as a breath freshener or - as a normal toothpick - to remove particles of food between teeth.
Cinnamon flavored toothpicks are typically sold in small packages of 6 to 15 pieces packed in boxes of 12 to 36 units. Polyethylene plastic bags (also known in the industry as Poly Bags) or plastic tubes are used as packaging materials. Cinnamon flavor will typically range from mild to hot, depending on the brand.
History
The cinnamon toothpick was created in 1949, by American drugstore owner August T. Baden, of Independence Kansas[1] as a treat for the neighborhood children. They became increasingly popular in the 1950s and 1960s
In the 1960s, Bud Harmon’s company Harmon's Grain Products Inc. packaged and marketed Cinnamon Toothpicks to sweeten breath and curb appetite and smoking urges. The company closed in 2008 after the passing of its owner. Today, several companies produce a variety of flavored toothpicks from all natural flavored picks to those containing sugar, artificial sweeteners and flavorings.