Cloves are the dried flower buds of an evergreen tree native to the Spice Islands of Indonesia, and they were once so valuable they were traded like gold! These little nail-shaped buds (their name comes from the Latin clavus, “nail”) are packed with warm, sweet, spicy flavor and a powerful natural compound called eugenol. Cloves are a kitchen favorite and a cherished herb in traditional medicine, used to: support comfortable digestion and ease gas and bloating bring temporary comfort to the mouth and gums warm the body during the colder months round out the traditional “herbal cleanse trio” with black walnut and wormwood Ways to use them: Kitchen: add them to mulled cider, chai, ham, baked goods, soups and holiday recipes. Elderberry syrup: simmer a few with elderberries, cinnamon and ginger for a classic winter syrup. Warming tea: steep 3 to 4 whole cloves with cinnamon and ginger in hot water for 10 minutes. Mouth and gum comfort: gently hold a whole clove near the sore area. It’s an old-fashioned trick! Pomanders: press cloves into an orange for a fragrant, natural air freshener. Cautions: normal kitchen amounts are safe for most people. Avoid medicinal amounts during pregnancy and while nursing. Talk with your provider if you take blood thinners. Sold by the ounce.
