A Complete Guide to Using Cloves in Your Cooking

Cloves are the unmistakable fragrance of the holiday season and chilly weather. With their bold, unique scent, they instantly bring to mind feelings of warmth and comfort.

If you've ever enjoyed anything labeled as "pumpkin spice," then you've already tasted cloves, as they’re a core ingredient in that mix. Cloves pair perfectly with other cozy spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, making them essential in autumnal dishes and drinks.

What Are Cloves?

Cloves are actually the dried flower buds of a tree called the clove tree, which is part of the Myrtle plant family. These buds are harvested before they bloom from an evergreen tree native to tropical climates like India, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka, with Indonesia being the primary grower of cloves.

After harvesting, the immature green buds are dried, transforming into a rich, dark reddish-brown color. These tiny buds, about 1 centimeter long, have a distinctive shape resembling a small spike or stake, with a slightly rounded top.

Cloves are available both whole and ground. When ground, they lose some of their sharp intensity and become less potent over time.

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What Does Clove Taste Like?

Cloves offer a powerful and distinct aroma that mirrors its flavor: bold, warm, and unmistakably intense. The taste strikes a bittersweet note with a sharp, astringent finish.

Nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice share similar flavor profiles with cloves and are often blended together. You’ve probably tasted them in combinations like pumpkin pie spice, Chinese five-spice, and garam masala.

You’ll find that cloves are used in small quantities in recipes—this is because their potent flavor goes a long way. Just a pinch can elevate any dish with its deep, warming complexity.

How to Use Cloves

Whether you're using cloves in sweet or savory dishes, remember that a little goes a long way. If you're using whole cloves, make sure to remove or strain them out before serving, as they won't soften during cooking and can be unpleasantly woody and firm to bite into.

Cloves are perfect for adding depth to sauces, soups, marinades, or meat rubs. You can also stud them in a holiday ham for a festive touch. They’re common in rice dishes, many Indian recipes, and are essential in chili, pot roast, and various pickling spice blends.

Ground cloves shine in sweet treats and baked goods, especially during the colder months. Think pumpkin pie, gingerbread, and a variety of cookies, breads, and cakes. Cloves also make a warm addition to beverages like mulled wine, chai, and hot cider.

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A Glimpse into History and Culture

The name "clove" comes from the French word "clou", meaning "nail," which perfectly describes their appearance once dried—tiny, nail-like spikes, resembling thumbtacks or even ancient clubs.

Cloves have a long and rich history, not only in the kitchen but also in medicine and perfumery. In Ancient China, they were prized for both culinary uses and as medicinal remedies.

The spice trade surrounding cloves was so profitable it influenced wars and the control of territories. Originating from the Spice Islands (now part of Indonesia), cloves were once considered so valuable they could shape the course of history.