  |
Description
Cloves are the dried, unopened, nail-shaped flower buds of the
evergreen Syzygium aromaticum. They are reddish-brown in color
and have a strong, aromatic flavor and aroma.
Uses
Cloves are an important ingredient in the spice blends of Sri
Lanka and North India. They are used in garam masala, biryanis,
and pickles. In the U.S., cloves are used in meats, salad
dressings, and desserts. Clove is a key flavor contributor to
ketchup and Worchester shire sauce seasoning blends. Chinese and
German seasonings also depend on Cloves to flavor meats and
cookies.
Origins
Cloves are believed to be native to the Molucca Islands of
Indonesia. Although Indonesia is the largest producer of Cloves,
Zanzibar and Madagascar are the major exporters, where Clove
trees cover thousands of acres of the islands. Historically,
Cloves originating from Madagascar have been considered
superior.
Folklore
The name Cloves comes from the French "clou", meaning nail. The
first references to Cloves are found in Oriental literature in
the Han period in China under the name "chicken-tongue spice".
From the 8th Century on, Cloves became one of the major spices
in European commerce. When the Clove forests were first
discovered in Indonesia, all were enchanted with the fragrance
and beauty of this tropical evergreen tree which "must always
see the sea" in order to thrive. Cloves were extremely costly
and played an important part in world history. Wars were fought
to secure exclusive rights to the profitable Clove business. In
the Moluccas, where Cloves were first found, parents planted a
Clove tree when a child was born. |
|
|
