A method and plant for manufacturing cement clinker are disclosed, in which cement raw meal is calcined in a calciner. The calciner comprises an upper zone and a lower zone, where fuel, combustion gas and raw meal are introduced into the upper zone of the calciner and directed downward through the calciner. The combustion gas and raw meal are introduced tangentially into the calciner and subject to rotation follow a spiral-shaped flow path, and, under the action of gravity, the raw meal is primarily directed down along the wall of the calciner. The rotation of the combustion gas in at least the lower zone of the calciner is subjected to braking and approximately simultaneously or subsequently at least some of the combustion gas and at least some of the raw meal in the lower zone of the calciner is directed in the direction towards the center-line of the calciner.