Cloves

Cloves are the dried flower buds of the clove tree. Cloves are about ½ inch long and ¼ inch in diameter, which somewhat resemble nails. They have a hard exterior but the inner flesh is oily, which is sweet and aromatic in taste, they are commonly used as a spice in cuisine all over the world.

Provide:

Both dried cloves and cloves powder are widely available in regular supermarkets, but you can get superior qualitied cloves in the local spice stores or ethnic markets.

Purchasing tips:

Whenever possible, select whole cloves instead of powder form cloves, as cloves powder loses its flavor more quickly. Indicating by squeeze with a fingernail, high quality cloves will release some of their oil.

Storage:

Store cloves in a tightly sealed glass container and place in a cool, dark and dry place. Ground cloves can keep for about half a year, while whole cloves will stay for about one year. For longer storage, refrigerate.

Nutritional and Health Benefits:

Cloves are rich in manganese, calcium, dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and omega-3 fatty acids.