Cloves

CLOVES are a pleasant, sweet spice like cinnamon, but have a stronger flavor and a sharp aroma. Whole cloves are the buds of the evergreen clove tree. They are unique in both shape and flavor.  It’s a spice that is very strong on its own. Cloves are renowned for delivering their uniquely warm, sweet, and aromatic flavor in all sorts of baked and stove cooked cuisines.

Clove blossoms turn pink almost before they bloom, likewise when they are ready to harvest they are the freshest and richest cloves. They are further grounded in small batches, for amazing flavor in curries, pies, and sauces.

Cloves should always be used with a very light hand, whether alone or in combination. The intense flavors can easily overpower a dish.  On the other hand, whole cloves have a longer shelf life than ground clove powder and they stay fresh for up to a year if stored in a cool, dry place in an airtight container. 

Ground cloves are often used in conjunction with cinnamon in baked goods, fruit pies, and squash, sweet potato, and pumpkin recipes. Cloves enhance the flavors of apples and bananas in desserts and are occasionally used in curries and sauces.