Discover Spices: Cloves

Spices & The Spice Routes

Cloves

The cloves are the unopened bud of a tree, native to the Moluccas, or Spice Islands which are part of Indonesia.

The tree, part of the myrtle family has fragrant, rich green leaves.

Chinese physicians appreciated the medicinal benefits of the cloves as early as 3 BC. Dignitaries visiting the emperor were expected to suck cloves to sweeteen their breath; today eugenol, extracted from cloves oil, is used in toothpastes and gargles.

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

The name clove is believed to be derived from the French 'clou' meaning nail, which is an apt description of the appearance of the spice.

		The cloves are the unopened bud of a tree, native to the Moluccas, or Spice Islands which are part of Indonesia. The tree, part of the myrtle family has fragrant, rich green leaves. Chinese physicians appreciated the medicinal benefits of the cloves as early as 3 BC. Dignitaries visiting the emperor were expected to suck cloves to sweeteen their breath; today eugenol, extracted from cloves oil, is used in toothpastes and gargles.
Clove pomander: an orange stuck with cloves is a traditional way to scent clothes.
The name clove is believed to be derived from the French 'clou' meaning nail, which is an apt description of the appearance of the spice.