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Botanical name
Syzygium aromaticum
Description
Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree. They are native to the Maluku Islands (or Moluccas) in Indonesia and are commonly used as a spice.
Vitamins and Minerals
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Manganese
Possible Benefits
- Clove oil can help relieve the pain of a toothache.
- Cloves have antimicrobial properties, which means that they can help stop the growth of bacteria.
- Can be used as an ant repellent.
Flavor Profile
Pungent, almost hot, intense and strong with a sweet, bitter and astringent flavor.
Pairs Well With
- Allspice
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
- Basil
- Citrus
Background and History
Until modern times, cloves grew only on a few islands in the Moluccas (historically called the Spice Islands), including Bacan, Makian, Moti, Ternate, and Tidore.
The clove tree that experts believe is the oldest in the world, named Afo, is on Ternate. The tree is between 350 and 400 years old.
When the Dutch East India Company consolidated its control of the spice trade in the 17th century, they sought to gain a monopoly in cloves, but clove trees grew all over the Moluccas, so this was not possible.
Popular Uses
- Used in Asian, African, Near and Middle East cuisines.
- Used to flavor meats, curries and marinades.
- Used to flavor fruit such as apples, pears or rhubarb.
- Often combined with other ingredients such as lemon and sugar.
- Cloves are a common element in the spice blend pumpkin pie spice.
- In Mexican cuisine, cloves are best known as clavos de olor, and often accompany cumin and cinnamon.
- Used in Peruvian cuisine in a wide variety of dishes as carapulcra and arroz con leche.