Cloves

Description

Cloves are the dried, unopened, nail-shaped flower buds of the evergreen Syzygium aromaticum. They are reddish-brown in colour and have a strong, aromatic flavour and aroma.

Did You Know?

The name Cloves comes from the French "clou", meaning nail. The first references to Cloves are found in Oriental literature in the Han period in China under the name "chicken-tongue spice". From the 8th Century on, Cloves became one of the major spices in European commerce. When the Clove forests were first discovered in Indonesia, all were enchanted with the fragrance and beauty of this tropical evergreen tree which "must always see the sea" in order to thrive. Cloves were extremely costly and played an important part in world history. Wars were fought to secure exclusive rights to the profitable Clove business. In the Moluccas, where Cloves were first found, parents planted a Clove tree when a child was born.

Origins

Cloves are believed to be native to the Molucca Islands of Indonesia. Although Indonesia is the largest producer of Cloves, Zanzibar and Madagascar are the major exporters, where Clove trees cover thousands of acres of the islands. We buy our cloves from Indonesia.

Usage

Stud baked or roasted ham with Whole Cloves and spread over a mixture of honey, sugar and mustard before finishing in a hot oven.
Cloves complement ham, onions, rice, apples, cakes, biscuits, desserts, mulled wine, Chinese and Indonesian dishes.
Add Whole Cloves to mulled wine with Cinnamon Sticks and Coriander Seeds.
Cloves can easily overpower a dish, particularly when ground, so only a few need be used.