TRECIA Rose had an idea and she ran with it.

While lying in bed one morning, Rose thought to herself how much she enjoyed cinnamon tea.

Alone, it was refreshing, she thought. So, imagine how great it would be when combined with the ultimate thirst quencher — water.

“I just got out of the bed, did a sample and it worked,” Rose told the Jamaica Observer. “I then went straight to the SRC (Scientific Research Council).”

Its great taste plus several health benefits was enough to get the project off the ground.

The SRC, the government agency responsible for fostering scientific research, from Rose’s idea, came up with the formulation for a water/cinnamon drink. And the appropriately branded Cinnamon Water was born. This was followed by Cinnamon Lime.

Produced and bottled from SRC Pilot Plant in Kingston, Rose told the Sunday Observer that Cinnamon Water and Cinnamon Lime have been gaining traction, particularly in Spanish Town, St Catherine, where they are distributed to several wholesales, pharmacies and supermarkets.

The response has been positive so far, she said, attributing this to the health benefits of the product.

Cinnamon has a wide range of health benefits, including being used to help treat muscle spasms, vomiting, diarrhoea, infections, and the common cold.

“We did a lot of promotion and people loved it,” Rose told the Sunday Observer. “People are more aware of the health benefits of cinnamon now, and are really taking on to it.”

Rose pointed out that cinnamon is a natural preservative, so “a tiny amount” of another preservative is added to her products.

Cinnamon Water has a shelf life of eight months, while Cinnamon Lime can last on shelves for four months.

Rose now uses the SRC plant sporadically, but she is hoping to start weekly production soon.