Spice quantity converter

What you asked

Spice:

Cassia

Form:

Ground

Amount:

1 teaspoons

Convert to:

grams

Spoon standard:

metric (1 tsp = 5 ml, 1 tbsp = 15 ml, 1 cup = 250 ml)

How it was worked out

Volume and mass are converted through a density figure specific to cassia in ground form. Standard household-measure gram weight for one level teaspoon published by USDA FoodData Central, recorded with a ±15% tolerance to reflect grind, packing and moisture variation. Not a measurement of any specific product.

1. 1. Convert the input to millilitres

   1 × 5 ml

   = 5 ml

2. 2. Look up the density of cassia (ground)

   2.6 ± 0.39 g per level metric teaspoon (5 ml)

   = 0.52 g/ml

   This figure is specific to this spice and form. It is not transferable to another spice.

3. 3. Convert volume to grams

   5 ml × 0.52 g/ml

   = 2.6 g

4. 4. Convert grams to the target unit

   2.6 ÷ 1

   = 2.6 g

What this assumes

• Spoons are level, not heaped, and packed level spoon.
• The density figure was recorded against a metric teaspoon of 5 ml.
• Your input volumes are interpreted using the metric (1 tsp = 5 ml, 1 tbsp = 15 ml, 1 cup = 250 ml) standard.

Where this stops being reliable

• Grind coarseness changes packing density; a coarse grind weighs less per spoon than a fine one.
• A heaped spoon can weigh 40–50% more than a level one. These figures assume level.
• Moisture content rises in humid storage and increases mass without adding flavour.
• Brand and origin vary; where precision matters, weigh rather than measure by volume.
• USDA does not distinguish Ceylon cinnamon from cassia in its household measures, so the same reference figure is used for both. Any real difference is well inside the stated tolerance.

Evidence