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Cloves

Information for Cloves

The fragrant dried flower buds that come from the Myrtaceae evergreen tree are called cloves. When matured, the tree features blood-red blossoms that are harvested during the warmer seasons.

Cloves were originally domesticated in the Indonesian Maluku Islands. From there, the popularity of cloves spread through different Asian countries and they have been used as a spice ever since.

Because of their pungency, cloves are either cooked or ground into a powder. Various cuisines all over the world use cloves as a spice or seasoning to improve the overall richness of the dishes.

In India, there is the "cloves dish" which resembles pilaf but has other spices blended in it. In most countries in Europe, cloves are basic ingredients in Mulled wine, a holiday drink mixed with spices.

Additionally, cloves are regarded to have medicinal uses. They are used in Indian Ayurvedic, West African and Chinese medicines. In India, the cloves are extracted for their essential oils to treat digestive problems and toothaches.

In West Africa, they are mixed with water as a remedy drink to prevent vomiting, diarrhea, and upset stomachs. And lastly, the Chinese used cloves to strengthen kidneys and have the flower's essential oils applied topically on the skin to treat acne.



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