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Spice Description

Cloves are unopened flower buds of a tropical tree. They are rust brown in colour and give a pungent aromatic flavor to cuisines.

It is added while cooking. It also makes an important ingredient to Indian condiment.

History

Cloves are native to India and Indonesia, but until modern times cloves grew only on a few islands in the Maluku islands including bacan, moti, and tidore.

Cloves along with pepper and nutmeg were highly valued in roman times.

It is a basic spice used many different cuisines for its strong aromatic flavor.

It is also valued for its medicinal properties.

Plant Description

It is an evergreen tree which grows to a height of 10-20 m. Its leaves are oval and bearing crimson flowers in clusters.

The flower buds are of pale colour and gradually become green and at last at the time of collection they bear bright red colour.

When cloves are harvested they are 1-1.5 cm long with a head of unopened petal.

Cultivation

They grow best in the tropics and near the sea. This plant requires atleast 60mm of rainfall per year and harvesting is done in dry season.

They are picked up by hands and dried on the palm mats.

Parts Used

Whole clove is used

Preparation & Storage

Cloves are highly aromatic in flavor and sometimes full clove is used, and some may ground it to add as spice.

It should be stored in tight containers so as to maintain its aroma.

Constituents

The oil of cloves contains eugenol (70 to 85%), eugenol acetate (15%), and triterpene oleanolic acid.

Culinary Uses

• Cloves can be used in cooking either in ground form or as whole. It is added to give flavor. It also makes a soothing tea.
• Cloves have historically been used in Indian cuisines and Mexican cuisine.
• It is paired with cumin and cardamom in many dishes.

Medicinal Uses

• Cloves have been used in ayurveda since a long time in India. It is also used in other herbal medicines from china.
• It is thought to have carminative properties as it increases hydrochloric acid in stomach.
• The essential oils of cloves are used in aromatherapy especially for digestive problems.
• Traditionally cloves have been used to treat acidity, indigestion, diarrhea, hernia, ringworm and other fungal infections.
• Cloves are said to have positive effects on ulcers, nausea, flatulence, cold and cough.
• Many herbalists recommend cloves for digestive complaints and its oil for toothache

Names

• English- Cloves
• Hindi- Laung
• Chinese- Ding xiang
• Farsi- Mikhak
• French- Clou De Girofle
• German- Nelke, Gewurznelke

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