Cloves have a long history of medicinal, household and culinary applications that spans thousands of years. They are the dried flower bud of a tree native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia but now propagated elsewhere. A popular component of garam masala, it offers a sweet, bright, spicy note to any recipe or tea blend. A little goes a long way, and care must be used so it does not overpower other flavors.
The cloves are appreciated for their versatility, being used in a variety of applications such as enhancing the flavor of teas, spicing up mulled wines, creating aromatic citrus decorations, and even for medicinal purposes like alleviating migraines.
We recommend referring to a healthcare practitioner before using herbs and spices, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.