Whole Cloves

Cloves are among the world’s oldest known spices. They’re also one of the most intense spices, carrying a distinct flavor that is pungent, bitter, hot, and a bit fruity with a strong aroma of camphor. Because of this intensity, cloves are usually blended with other spices. You’ll find them in the cuisines of Asia, North Africa, India, the Middle East, Mexico and more. Cloves are also popular in Christmas fare and many dessert recipes.

Cloves are a versatile spice. They’re most often paired with other dessert spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and are a key ingredient in Pumpkin Pie Spice. But cloves are also used in many savory dishes. Ground clove is included in curry blends such as Garam Masala. In Mexican cuisine, cloves are frequently blended with cinnamon and cumin.

Add cloves to your stews, sauces, soups, and stocks for a unique depth of flavor. They can be a wonderful addition to savory meat dishes and root vegetables like sweet potatoes, squash, beets, and carrots. Whole cloves are included in most pickling spice mixes. They’re also a must-have when making mulled wine or homemade apple cider. And of course, when it comes to dessert, cloves are a go-to spice — used in various recipes for pies, cakes, and cookies along with holiday favorites like gingerbread and eggnog.

About the clove tree

Whole cloves are the unopened flower buds of the clove tree, an evergreen native to the Moluccas (Spice Islands). The clove tree grows up to 40ft tall with crimson flowers and large leaves. Its flower buds are harvested right before they bloom and are then dried until they turn a dark brown color, resulting in whole dried cloves that are highly aromatic and full of flavor. Our whole cloves come from Indonesia.