Description
What is it all about ?
Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum. They are native to the Maluku Islands (or Moluccas) in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice. Clove is a spice well known as much for its cuisine as its medicinal properties. It is a flower bud picked from a large tree, the clove tree, and then dried to harden and brown in color. Its taste is pungent and bitter, so it is used sparingly in cooking. Cloves in nail or powder By crushing the clove to make a powder, it loses some flavor and can be kept for a shorter time. However, ground cloves take less time to flavor a dish and are easier to use. The whole cloves must marinate longer in the dish for their flavor to emerge and above all they must not be chewed because the taste is particularly unpleasant.
How to use Cloves in cooking ?
Cloves are used in the composition of several spice blends: Ras-El-Hanout, the five spices, Garam Massala … They are used to flavor broths, marinades, stews, preserves… as well as dishes in sauce. This spice is also used in pastry making: fruit cakes, gingerbread, pies … Often associated with Christmas parties, it is present in Christmas cakes like speculos. Finally, cloves flavor teas, especially Christmas tea or Chaï.
The virtues of Cloves
Clove is a pain reliever. It has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anesthetic properties. Well known to relieve dental pain, it is also an excellent natural antioxidant and helps joint and muscle pain. It is also said to be an aphrodisiac and a very good insect repellant. The famous kretek Indonesian cigarettes are made with many cloves
