Can one use ground cinnamon for the besamim in havdala?
Answer:
Yes, ground cinnamon can be used for besamim.
Best wishes.
Sources:
The custom for Ashkenazim is to recite the berachah of “minei besamim” for Havdalah even for smells that would usually receive the berachah of atzei besamim or isvei besamim.
Even according to the Sephardi custom, for cinnamon one would recite “minei besamim” because ground cinnamon is not eaten on its own, and is therefore not a “fruit.”
The fact that the cinnamon is intended for cooking does not affect the matter of making a berachah over it, provided it is being taken now for smelling (see Mishnah Berurah 216:51 and Biur Halachah 216).
Therefore, according to all cinnamon is fine, and “minei besamim” is recited.
