Clove

Cloves are the dried, unopened flower buds of a tropical evergreen tree (Syzygium aromaticum), harvested by hand while still tightly closed and sun-dried until they darken to their familiar deep brown. Intensely aromatic and slightly numbing on the tongue, cloves have been a prized trade spice for over a thousand years.

Where It Comes From

Clove trees require a humid tropical climate and take several years to mature enough to flower, making them entirely impractical for home gardens outside places like Indonesia, Madagascar, and Zanzibar, historically among the largest producers. For nearly all cooks, cloves will only ever be a purchased whole bud or ground spice.

Culinary Uses

Whole cloves are often studded into a baked ham or simmered in mulled wine and cider, adding warmth without overwhelming a dish if used in moderation — cloves are potent, and a little goes a long way. Ground cloves are a staple of pumpkin pie spice, gingerbread, and other warmly spiced baked goods.