Clove

What is Clove?

Cloves are the dried, unopened flower buds of an evergreen tree called Syzygium aromaticum. The tree grows tall with large leaves and clusters of crimson flowers. Harvesters pick the buds when they turn from pale green to bright red. Each bud has a long stem ending in four sepals and a central ball of petals. When dried, they become hard, dark brown spikes. They smell strong and sweet, with a sharp, warming bite that can numb the mouth. The taste comes largely from eugenol, a chemical that makes up most of the spice’s essential oil.

Where does Clove come from?

These spices come from the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, once known as the Spice Islands. For centuries, they grew only on a few islands there, such as Ternate and Tidore. Austronesian traders moved them along maritime routes starting around 1500 BC. Archaeological finds show they reached Syria by 1720 BC and Rome by the first century AD. Chinese records mention them early on, though some ancient references likely confused them with other plants. European powers later fought for control of the trade, trying to keep production secret.

What does Clove taste like?

The main flavour comes from eugenol, which makes up seventy-two to ninety percent of the oil. This gives cloves a pungent, sharp scent and a warm, sweet taste. The spice also contains beta-caryophyllene and vanillin. Because the taste is so strong, cooks usually use very little. It pairs well with cinnamon, vanilla, allspice, and peppercorns. The eugenol creates a slight numbing sensation on the tongue, adding depth to dishes without adding capsaicin heat.

How Clove is grown and processed

The trees grow in tropical climates and reach heights of eight to twelve metres. Farmers harvest the buds before they open fully. After picking, the buds are dried until they turn dark brown and hard. Indonesia remains the largest producer today, though Madagascar and Tanzania also grow significant amounts. The Dutch East India Company once tried to monopolize the crop by limiting exports, but the trees grew too widely to control completely. Modern farming includes monocultures and agroforestry systems.

How Clove is used

Cooking uses these buds whole or ground into powders. They flavour meats like baked ham, curries, and marinades. In Asian cuisines, they appear in spice blends like pumpkin pie spice and Malay rempah. Mexican cuisine uses them as clavos de olor with cumin and cinnamon. Peruvian dishes include them in stews and rice puddings. They also steep in hot drinks with lemon and sugar. Outside cooking, the oil preserves food from mold and protects wood from decay.

Clove in the world's kitchens

Asian cuisines use cloves extensively in complex spice pastes and meat rubs. African traditions incorporate them into stews and ceremonial foods. Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooks blend them into savory dishes and sweets. Mexican cuisine relies on them alongside cinnamon for mole and tamales. Peruvian cooking adds them to hearty soups and desserts. Malay cuisine groups them with cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise as core flavoring agents.

Spiritual and ceremonial use

Religious texts mention the spice in ancient contexts. The Ramayana and Charaka Samhita reference it in historical narratives. Chinese officials once sucked cloves to freshen their breath before speaking to emperors, a practice linked to court etiquette. Burial sites in Europe contained pollen and whole cloves, suggesting use in embalming or funeral rites. Victorian England used pomanders made with cloves as gifts to show warmth and affection.

Clove at celebrations

Historical records link cloves to royal banquets and diplomatic summits. Noblemen displayed them as exotic luxuries at political gatherings. Burial practices in medieval and early modern Europe sometimes included the spice for preservation or ritual purposes. While not tied to specific modern festivals, they remain part of traditional holiday baking in Western cultures. Their presence in ancient trade logs marks them as valuable gifts during important cultural exchanges.

Traditional and medicinal use

Traditional medicine uses clove oil to treat toothaches and dental pain. The eugenol acts as an analgesic for nerve pain in emergencies. Some practitioners use it to fight bacteria in root canals. However, medical authorities have not approved these uses for treating diseases. Taking the oil orally can cause adverse effects for people with liver issues or blood disorders. It is considered unsafe for self-medication without professional guidance.

Buying and storing Clove

Keep whole cloves in airtight containers away from light and heat. Ground cloves lose their potency much faster than whole buds. Store them in a cool, dry place to preserve the essential oils. Check for any musty smells, which indicate spoilage. Whole cloves can last for years if kept properly sealed. Grinding them just before use ensures the strongest flavor in your cooking.

The trade in Clove

The spice drove global exploration and colonial conflict for centuries. The Dutch East India Company attempted to monopolize the trade in the seventeenth century. They failed to control production entirely because the trees grew across many islands. French explorers eventually smuggled seedlings to Mauritius and Seychelles to break the monopoly. Today, Indonesia dominates production, exporting only a fraction of its harvest. The trade routes evolved from ancient maritime networks to modern global commerce.

Meal

Dinner meals often feature whole cloves in slow-cooked meat dishes and rich curries. Snacks may include betel quids mixed with the spice for aroma. Hot drinks benefit from a single bud steeped for fragrance. Preserves and fruit compotes use cloves to add warmth to apples and pears. Street food vendors sometimes use them in savory snacks. Feasts and banquets historically included cloves as luxury items to impress guests.

Blends with Clove

Questions people ask about Clove

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• The world's oldest clove treeBBC, Article
• Noble's Embalming Jar Reveals Traces of 17th-Century MedicineNational Geographic, Article

• Clove on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data