Description

Cloves comes from an evergreen tree in the myrtle family, called Syzygium Aromaticum. Cloves are the dried unopened flower buds of this evergreen tree. These nail-shaped buds are dark reddish brown in color. The name, "Cloves" comes from French word "Clou" which means "nail". Cloves are very rich, strong, sweet, pungent-almost hot and have an aromatic flavor and aroma. The bitter, astringent flavor is almost numbing to the mouth when it's bitten into. This spice is one of the most penetrating of all spices.

Fresh Cloves on the Clove Tree.

Origin

Cloves are native to the Molucca Islands, Indonesia. Cloves also come from Ceylon, Brazil, Panang and Madagascar. Indonesia is the one of the largest producers of Cloves, along with Zanzibar and Madagascar. Zanzibar and Madagascar, where Clove trees cover thousands of acres of the islands, are the major exporters of this spice. Cloves from Madagascar are considered premium.
Cloves has been used for a thousands of years. This spice became one of the major spices in European commerce from the 8th century onwards. The first reference was oriental in which it says that, the Chinese, in order to approach the emperor, had to have a few Cloves in their mouths to sweeten their breath. When the Clove forests were discovered in Indonesia, all were amazed and enchanted by the beauty and fragrance of this tropical evergreen tree. Cloves were once extremely costly and played an important part in world history. There were wars that were fought in Europe and with native Islanders to secure exclusive rights to the profitable Clove business. The native Islanders of the Moluccas, Indonesia, where Cloves were first discovered, planted a Clove tree when a child was born.

Cloves add a warm and spicy touch to any dish.

Use

Cloves is a very common spice used in various spice blends, such as garam masala, pickles, biryanis and more, in India and Sri Lanka. This spice is used in both sweet and savory cooking. Cloves is used in baked goods such as cookies, mincemeat pies, cakes. This spice, in ground form, adds a spicy touch to cookies, like christmas holiday gingerbread cookies, cakes, muffins and other desserts. Much of the world crop of Cloves is used for "Kreteks" in Indonesia. "Kreteks" are Clove cigarettes. Cloves is a secret ingredient in cocktail sauces, barbecue sauces, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce. It is also used in German and Chinese cuisines to flavor meats and cookies.

Tip
Blend Ground Cloves with maple syrup and drizzle this syrup over cooked winter squash and sweet potatoes to add a warm spicy touch to the dish, perfect during holidays and the cold season.

Allspice
Anise Seed
Arrowroot
Basil, Sweet
Bay Leaves
Caraway Seed
Cardamom
Cayenne Pepper
Celery Seed
Chervil
Chives
Cilantro
Cinnamon
Cloves
Coriander
Cream of Tartar
Cumin
Curry Powder
Dill
Fennel Seed
Garlic
Ginger
Horseradish
Juniper Berries

Ground Cloves.