Clove is a type of herb. Oils, dried flower buds, leaves, and stems are used to make medicine. Clove is used as an expectorant and for stomach upset. Expectorants make coughing up phlegm easier. Clove oil is used to treat diarrhea, hernias, and halitosis. Clove and clove oil treat gas, nausea, and vomiting in the intestines. Cloves are a spicy spice used in savory dishes, desserts, and drinks. Meat, sauces, and rice dishes all benefit from adding whole or ground cloves. Cloves are commonly used in sweet dishes, especially “pumpkin pie” flavored items for the autumn and winter holidays, in mulled wine, cider, or tea, and cinnamon and nutmeg.
Clove is a spice native to Asian countries such as Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and even parts of East Africa. It has numerous health benefits. Aiding digestion, boosting the immune system, and controlling diabetes are just a few advantages. Cloves have anti-mutagenic and antimicrobial properties that may aid in treating oral diseases and headaches.
What is Clove?
Cloves are a spice made from the flower buds of an evergreen tree known as the clove tree, as the name suggests (Syzygium aromaticum). Clove flower buds are harvested when they are still immature and dried. Whole cloves are shaped like a small reddish-brown spike with a bulbous top, measuring about one centimeter in length. Cloves have a strong, pungent flavor and aroma that can be used whole or ground.
Origin
Cloves are grown in India and Madagascar, but the production of cloves is most closely associated with Indonesia. Indeed, the clove trade was so lucrative that the British ceded the Spice Islands (now part of Indonesia) to the Dutch in 1667, following the Second Anglo-Dutch War, in exchange for a faraway settlement known as New Amsterdam. As a result, the Dutch traded Manhattan for cloves.
What does Clove Taste Like?
Cloves are spicy, aromatic spices with a strong aroma and flavor. The compound eugenol is responsible for the flavor. There’s sweetness, bitterness, astringency (drying the mouth) on the tongue, and a noticeable heat. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice are all warm spices that are similar. In a pumpkin pie mix, these are frequently combined.
oves are much more potent than their milder cousins, so they’re used in smaller amounts in recipes and blends. Cloves have an overpowering flavor for some people, so they opt to leave them out entirely.
What are the Culinary Uses for Cloves?
Cloves are commonly used in spice blends for meat rubs and marinades, such as Chinese five-spice powder and garam masala, which are both popular. The stud whole-baked hams and pots of German braised red cabbage are among the many spices used to make Vietnamese pho. This aromatic spice is commonly used to flavor hot beverages such as mulled wine, Masala chai tea, and hot apple cider.
Sweet dishes like stewed apples and pears, pumpkin pie, and gingerbread are other options. Cloves are commonly used to add sweetness and spice to other sauces, jams, and pickling mixtures and are a key ingredient in Worcestershire sauce. Before serving, whole cloves are usually removed from beverages, sauces, and other recipes.
- In Chinese medicine, the clove was considered to possess aphrodisiac properties.
- Ground cloves are traditionally applied to minor cuts for healing purposes.
- Clove tea is a popular warm beverage to relieve congestion.
- Clove oil is thought to help relieve headaches and flatulence and reduce stretch marks.
- It is also popularly used as a bug and insect repellant. Just add a few drops to water and see them vanish!
Substitutions
When you buy whole cloves, you can easily make ground cloves when you need them. This is advantageous because ground cloves, like any other ground spice, quickly lose their potency and depth of flavor. You can use a spice grinder, mortar, install, or a clean coffee grinder.
Because the clove flavor and aroma will linger, thoroughly clean the grinder before using it with other spices. If you don’t have cloves, an equal amount of allspice can be substituted in a recipe. As a clove substitute, make a mixture of nutmeg and cinnamon (equal parts).
What Diseases can Cloves Cure?
Cloves are very healthy to eat, and they can cure many diseases:
- Cloves are high in antioxidants, such as eugenol, which can help with oxidative stress reduction.
- Clove compounds have been shown in test tubes to inhibit cancer cell growth and promote cancer cell death. More research is needed on humans to confirm these effects.
- Cloves’ antimicrobial properties, which may help kill harmful bacteria, have been shown in studies to promote oral health.
- Cloves and their compounds have been shown in some studies to help reduce oxidative stress and protect the liver.
- Clove compounds have been shown in test tubes and animal studies to help promote insulin production and lower blood sugar levels.
- In animal studies, clove extract and manganese have been shown to help increase bone mineral density. To confirm these effects, more research is needed.
- Clove extract and clove oil have been shown in animal studies to increase gastric mucus production and protect against stomach ulcers. More human research is required.
Side Effects of Cloves
Although cloves have a lot of health benefits, it has some side effects also:
- love Essential Oil: Clove essential oil must not be used directly. Instead, dilute it either in olive oil or in distilled water. Clove extract oil is generally considered safe, but a study revealed that they possess cytotoxic properties.
- Clove Cigarettes: In Indonesia, cloves are consumed on a large scale in the form of cigarettes, popularly known as kreteks. These clove cigarettes have emerged as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes, but research shows that clove cigarettes are worse health-wise than conventional cigarettes. In the case of clove cigarettes, the amount of nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar entering the lungs was higher than that of normal tobacco cigarettes.
Can I Drink Clove Water Everyday?
Drinking clove water first thing in the morning can help boost your immune system and protect you from infections and flu. Clove water is high in vitamins and minerals that can help to improve your health and immunity. Manganese, vitamin k, vitamin c, calcium, and magnesium are abundant.
Cooking with Cloves
Cloves, whole or ground, are used to flavor sauces, soups, and rice dishes, particularly in Indian cuisine, and are one of the ingredients in garam masala. Whole cloves are either picked out of the dish or removed before serving. Whole cloves have a rough, woody texture that is difficult to bite into, even when cooked.
Cloves, especially ground cloves, are used in various delicacies, especially on holidays. Consider the flavors of eggnog or pumpkin pie spice. Cloves are frequently combined with cinnamon or nutmeg, but they should be used sparingly in general.
Cloves have long been used to relieve toothache pain in folk treatments. 2 The compound eugenol, which gives cloves their flavor, is also a pain reliever and can help reduce inflammation. 2 In a drug store, look for clove oil (or oil of cloves) in the teeth care area. Because clove oil can be hazardous to children, keep it out of reach and only apply child-safe, diluted mixtures on them. 3 If you have any concerns about the product’s safety, visit your dentist or pediatrician.
What is a Clove of Garlic?
To begin, fresh garlic is usually sold in bulb-like heads covered in whiteish papery skin. When you peel back the outer layer of papery skin, you’ll see that one bulb comprises many individual lobes, each of which is also covered in papery skin. Each of these lobes is referred to as garlic cloves. Individual cloves can be separated from the stem and cooked separately, leaving the rest of the head intact for later use.
You’ll probably notice that some garlic cloves are larger than others. In situations like this, it’s fine to use common sense if you’re following a recipe. Combine a tiny garlic clove with another tiny clove to make one regular-size clove. If you come across a particularly large clove of garlic, consider chopping some of it off.
Keep in mind that a little more or less garlic in a recipe won’t make a huge difference in the final flavor. Finally, the amount of garlic you use is a matter of personal preference. Chefs joke that if a recipe calls for a certain amount of garlic, they’ll double it to make the dish even more flavorful.
Where to Buy Cloves?
Cloves are sold in small jars in the supermarket’s spice section. The whole cloves, as well as the ground cloves, will be visible. However, you might be able to find them for a lower price in the Hispanic food section, where they’re known as clavos de color or simply clavos. Cloves are frequently sold for much less in international grocery stores than in supermarkets. Penang cloves, which are gourmet cloves that are individually selected by hand to ensure that each one is flawlessly shaped, are available at some specialty markets.
Amazon Brand Happy Belly Cloves, Whole, 2 Ounces
Features:
- 2-ounces of Happy Belly Whole Cloves
- The full, flavorful, warm, deep, savory, and sweet aroma
- Used to add warmth and sweetness in savory dishes like meats, roasts, glazed ham, sweet potatoes, rice dishes, baked beans, curries, dressings, stews, and marinades
- Also, spice blends for hot beverages, mulled wines and ciders, pies, fruit cakes, muffins, cookies, and pickling.
- Common in Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Mexican, and Peruvian cuisines
- Pairs well with allspice, bay, cardamom, cinnamon, chili, fennel, ginger, and nutmeg
- Kosher certified
Conclusion
Cloves have several potential health benefits, including lowering blood sugar and preventing bacteria growth. They’re most effective when eaten as part of a healthy, well-balanced diet, as are many other healthy foods. Try incorporating a few cloves into your meals once a week. Many dishes can benefit from the addition of ground cloves. Desserts, curries, and chutneys will benefit from their warm, distinct flavor. To make a soothing cup of clove tea, simmer whole cloves in boiling water for 5–10 minutes. Cloves are tasty and may have a variety of health benefits.
