Some History and Uses for Cloves

There is a fascinating history about cloves and its origin.  The word Clove is derived from the word "clou" which means, "nail".  This clove's history goes back many centuries.  Native to the Malucca Islands, Indonesia, it was one of the first spices to be traded, dating back as far as 1721 B.C.   Not only did the Romans enjoy cloves, but the Chinese were said to have used them as far back as 226 B.C.   The tale is that they chewed the flowerettes prior to meeting with the Emperor, so that their breath would not smell bad.
Along with nutmeg, cloves were one of the most precious spices of the 16th and 17th century. Cloves were so popular and the trade of it was great.  The Dutch wanted a monopoly on cloves, thus they went about destroying clove trees that sprouted up anywhere outside their control.  But monopolies never last forever. It did not take long for others to try their hands at the clove trade. By the 18th century cloves were being grown in other places including Zanzibar, Madagascar, Brazil, Mauritius, Ternate, Tidore, and Tanzania, among other places. With the disolution of the trade monopoly, the price of cloves came down and eventually cloves became a favorite spice for all classes of society, the world over.
This spice gets its name from the French word "clou" which means nail, as many have remarked on how much cloves look like nails. The clove tree is an evergreen which grows up to 20 feet tall and the stem is often forked with two or three main trunks. is a tropical evergreen plant which grows to 20 feet tall. It requires a warm humid climate to thrive with deep loam soil containing a high humus content being best suited for its cultivation.

The tree flowers twice every year and it is the unopened buds which are harvested once the outer green leaves (calyx) have changed from green to a yellow pink. The buds are harvested in clusters by hand and care is taken not to over pick which would result in a reduction of future crop yields.

The buds are then detached from the stalks, still by hand and dried separately. The buds must be dried very quickly to prevent them fermenting. This is done in the sun on mats and usually takes 4-5 days during which time they are raked over for even colouring.  By the end of the drying process, the cloves have become brittle and dark brown.  These are then winnowed to remove dust. The essential oil is said to have many medicinal properties and has been used for centuries to cure many ailments. Most interestingly, cloves have long been used to aid in dentistry as they have local anesthetic properties.

Cloves have powerful medicinal properties. They are stimulating and have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiseptic properties. They are also a natural anesthetic (due to the eugenol oil) which is why they were often used for dental procedures in centuries past and are still used in some cultures to remedy toothache. It is the oil that is derived from the cloves that is so powerful, and this is often used for medicines both topically and internally. This oil contains compound that helps with blood circulation and can stimulate the skin when applied directly to it.

Indian Name: Laung
Botanical Name: Syzygium aromaticum, Eugenia aromaticum
Family Name: Myrtaceae
Parts Used: Flower bud
Habitat: Indonesia

USES FOR CLOVES

Culinary Uses

Cloves are used in many cuisines worldwide…too many to mention them all. They can be bought whole or ground and are used in a variety of both savoury and sweet dishes. They should always be stored in an airtight container.
Whole cloves can be used when cooking fish, poultry and meats, for example in stews, when pickling fruit and vegetables and as an aromatic addition to hot punches and mulled wines. Ground cloves are not only used in savoury dishes, where whole cloves may spoil the texture or appearance, but also widely used as an ingredient in baking and desserts.
Cloves are also included in many spice mixtures. Chinese Five Spice, Indian Curry powder and Garam Masala, Moroccan ras el hanout and the French quatre épices amongst them. It is also an ingredient in Worcestershire Sauce.

Medicinal Use

According to traditional herbalist cloves are beneficial in the following problems:
Treats indigestion
Diarrhea
Hernia
Ringworm
Athlete's foot and other fungal infections.
Respiratory.
Used in anti-gout
Relieves toothache.
Helpful in insomnia and Curbs the desire for alcohol

Some of the other uses of Cloves are:
It is widely used for food flavoring and aroma in a variety of cuisines, used in confectionery and other products
Personal Hygiene products: Widely used in toothpastes, mouthwash and tooth powders.
Flavoring Industry
Perfumery
Cosmetics
Toiletries

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