Cloves | Whole or Ground, Syzygium aromaticum

What Are Cloves?

Cloves are the dried, unopened flower buds of the clove tree (Syzygium aromaticum), a tropical evergreen of the myrtle family native to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia, the original Spice Islands. The buds are picked by hand when they turn pink, just before they open, and dried in the sun until they become dark brown and hard. Their nail-like shape gave them their name, from the Latin clavus, nail.

Cloves have one of the strongest aromas of any spice: warm, sweet, pungent and slightly numbing on the tongue. In South Asia they are known as laung. They were one of the most valuable goods of the ancient and medieval spice trade.

Whole cloves are used to stud baked ham and onions, flavor mulled wine and cider, chai, rice dishes, biryani and pickles, and to make pomanders with oranges. Ground cloves go into gingerbread, pumpkin pie spice, apple pie, garam masala, Chinese five-spice and barbecue rubs.

Cloves are very strong, so a few go a long way. As a guide, 3 whole cloves equal about 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves.

Our cloves contain only Syzygium aromaticum buds, whole or ground, with nothing added. They are sold by weight, from small packs to bulk.