Clove is among our favorite spices, even more widely known and more generally used than ginger. They are the immature fruit and flower-buds of a beautiful, aromatic, evergreen tree of the tropics.
/ Getty Images. Definition: In the culinary arts, cloves are a spice made from the flower buds of an evergreen tree called the clove tree. Clove flower buds are harvested, unopened, and then dried. Cloves have a very strong, pungent flavor and aroma. They can be used whole or ground.  Clove-spice. Clove-spice ~ Super Spices. Like other spices, cloves are available throughout the year. They're renowned for providing their uniquely warm, sweet and aromatic taste to ginger bread and pumpkin pie, but they can also make a wonderful addition to split pea and bean soups, baked beans and chili.  The word ‘clove’ is from the Latin word for ‘nail’ – clavus. Cloves are native to the North Moluccas, the Spice Islands of Indonesia. It is cultivated in Brazil, the West Indies, Mauritius, Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar and Pemba. A studded onion is frequently used to impart an elusive character to courts-bouillons, stocks and soups. Cloves are often used to enhance the flavour of game, especially venison, wild boar and hare. They are used in a number of spice mixtures including ras el hanout, curry powders, mulling spices and pickling spices. The clove tree is an evergreen tree that grows up to 8–12 m tall, with large leaves and sanguine flowers grouped in terminal clusters. The flower buds initially have a pale hue, gradually turn green, then transition to a bright red when ready for harvest. A major component of clove taste is imparted by the chemical eugenol, and the quantity of the spice required is typically small. It pairs well with cinnamon, allspice, vanilla, red wine and basil, as well as onion, citrus peel, star anise, or peppercorns. Clove is among our favorite spices, even more widely known and more generally used than ginger. They are the immature fruit and flower-buds of a beautiful, aromatic, evergreen tree of the tropics. This tree reaches a height of from thirty to forty feet. The clove-tree was native in the Moluccas, or Clove Islands, and the southern Philippines. Now cloves are extensively cultivated in Sumatra, the Moluccas, West Indies, Penang, Mauritius, Bourbon, Amboyne, Guiana, Brazil, and Zanzibar-in fact, throughout the tropical world. Cloves are by far the most prominent of the spices known as flower spices.. Just before the buds blossom, they turn pink, at which point they must be harvested immediately. One tree yields about a seven-pound harvest. The flavor of the clove is rich, sweet and sultry.  The spice is used in a type of cigarette called kretek in Indonesia. They have been smoked throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. In 2009, clove cigarettes (as well as fruit-and candy-flavored cigarettes) were outlawed in the US. Cigarettes containing clove are now classified as cigars when sold in the US. A major component of clove taste is imparted by the chemical eugenol, and the quantity of the spice required is typically small. It pairs well with cinnamon, allspice, vanilla, red wine and basil, as well as onion, citrus peel, star anise, or peppercorns. Cloves Spice – Syzygium aromaticum. Cloves spice are dried flower buds from the Syzygium aromaticum tree. This is an evergreen tree native to Indonesia. Today many other countries are export cloves among them Zanzibar, Madagascar, India and Sri Lanka. Cloves trees will produce fruit for 30 years. Clove essential oil is used widely in aromatherapy. Clove essential oil is also used in candies and blends of other spices. Clove essential oil is not an uncommon ingredient in perfumes. Clove oil can be used on insect bites to relieve the pain. Some chew cloves to ease the pain if they have a toothache or they may dab a little clove oil on the gum
http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/glossary/g/Cloves.htm http://www.natures-health-foods.com/clove-spice.html http://theepicentre.com/spice/cloves/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clove http://www.plantguide.org/clove.html http://www.thespicehouse.com/spices/cloves-whole-and-ground https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clove http://usesofherbs.com/cloves
what is clove spice