Used as a spice in cuisines all across the globe, cloves are harvested mainly in India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and when they are 1.5–2 cm in length. The clove tree is an evergreen that grows to a height ranging from 8–12 m, with large leaves and sanguine flowers.

Historically, cloves were traded by Muslim sailors and merchants during the Middle Ages in the lucrative Indian Ocean trade.

Cloves: A Trader's Delight!

The English name Clove derives from the Latin ‘clavus’ meaning ‘nail’, as the buds appear like small nails.

As for its many uses, the clove is used in cooking, either whole or in a ground state. Cloves have traditionally been used in Indian cuisine (in both North and South Indian preparations).

Cloves - Key 'Ingredients' of Indian Cuisine!

In North Indian cuisine, cloves are used in almost all rich and spicy dishes, and forms part of the ingredients of a mix termed garam masala. In South Indian food, it is used extensively in Biryani, and normally added whole to enhance the appearance and flavour of the rice used in this dish.

In American cuisine, the clove is often used in sweet breads such as pumpkin or zucchini bread along with other sweet spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. It is also used in cheeses!

This spice is used in a type of cigarette called kretek, smoked throughout Europe, Asia and the United States. Cloves are also an important incense material in Chinese and Japanese cultures. Clove essence is commonly used in the production of several perfumes!

This being the Christmas season, it’s worth mentioning that it is a tradition in certain European countries to make pomanders from cloves to hang around the house. This spreads a nice scent throughout the house and serves as holiday decoration .

Cloves also find use in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Chinese medicine, and Western herbalism and dentistry where the essential oil is used as a painkiller during dental emergencies. The essential oil is also used in aromatherapy, especially for digestive disorders.

Clove oil, applied to a cavity in a decayed tooth, relieves toothache and also helps to reduce tooth infection as it possesses antiseptic properties. Additionally, clove oil proves useful in various skin ailments such as acne, pimples and so on. It is also used in case of severe burns, skin irritations and to reduce skin sensitivity.

Hence when you have a toothache next, or have pimples scarring your face, remember that this precious spice comes in handy!

Deepti Michelle John

Deepti, based out of Bangalore, works as Assistant Manager (Marketing) at Orange County Resorts. Possessing Master’s degrees in Psychology and Media and Communications from the London School of Economics, she enjoys spirituality, music, nature, and children.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 at 3:29 PM and is filed under Culture, Flora, Spice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.