Spice: Cloves

Background information

 One of the most important spices of commerce, cloves are the unopen flower buds of a small evergreen tree. Native to the Moluccas, or spice islands, which today is part of Indonesia. loves are the rich, brown, dried, unopened flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum, an evergreen tree in the myrtle family. The name comes from the French “clou” meaning nail.

Clove can be in these forms:

•Grounded – it is grinded into a fine powder.

•whole – they are rough to the touch and snap cleanly and are every small.

•Clove infuser-  to add flavor of the clove to the food without their texture. 

•Essential oil- it is used to rub on the gums to relieve toothache.

•Clove pomander- an orange stuck with cloves is a traditional way to scent clothes.          

Culinary

It goes extremely well with sweet or savory foods and are used for example baking ham and for spice breads.

Here is a recipe; Greek Clove Tea Cakes

Ingredients

·         1 1/2 cups Land O Lakes® Butter, softened

·         3/4 cup powdered sugar

·         3 cups all-purpose flour

·         1 teaspoon vanilla

·         1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

·         1/2 teaspoon brandy extract 

·         Powdered sugar

·         Ground cloves

How to make

STEP 1

Combine butter and 3/4 cup powdered sugar in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add flour, vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon cloves and brandy extract; beat at low speed until well mixed. Cover; refrigerate 1 hour until firm.

STEP 2

Heat oven to 350°F.

STEP 3

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 15-17 minutes or until very lightly browned. Cool completely.

STEP 4

Sprinkle cooled cookies with powdered sugar and cloves.

Folk medicine

It is used to relieve toothache by using the oil. Contain important nutrients, High in antioxidants, help protect against cancer, can also kill bacteria, and may improve liver health.

Other uses

Cigarettes are made with two parts tobacco to one part cloves.