Basics

Cloves are the unopened buds of an evergreen tree native to Indonesia. Cloves can be used in sweet, savory, and bitter applications, and have an interesting range of other than culinary applications. A breath freshener, cigarettes, and can help numb the gums around a sore tooth to name a few.

Producers

Indonesia and Madagascar are the worlds primary supplier of cloves. They are also grown in other parts of the world with similar latitudes.

Aromatics and Flavors

The aroma of cloves is summery and fresh. Cloves have a strong and bitter taste that becomes mellow when cooked with other ingredients.

Culinary Uses

One of the ingredients in the Indian spice mix Garam Masala, it is also used heavily in all culinary applications. Stocks and Sauces to Breads and Pastries. Studding food with cloves is a common practice. Ground Cloves can be mixed with other spices such as Cinnamon and Nutmeg.