The reaction of cysteine with cinnamaldehyde have been studied kinetically and thermodynamically. It was found that the reaction proceeds in two steps; formation of the monoadduct by a Michael type addition followed by the nucleophilic attack of the second cysteine to the carbonyl carbon of the monoadduct to afford the thiazolidine derivative. A reaction profile for the reaction of cysteine with cinnamaldehyde was constructed based on the thermodynamic parameters analyzed for the forward and the reverse reactions. It was assumed that the second step of this reaction accompanies an intermediate, a Schiff base.