What Are Cloves?

Cloves are a fragrant spice made from the dried flowers of the clove tree. In the past, spices used to be worth their weight in gold, and cloves were no exception. Native to the Spice Islands near China, cloves spread throughout Europe and Asia during the late Middle Ages as a key part of local cuisine. Today, cloves remain a popular spice that gives many dishes a subtly sweet warmth.

What are ground cloves?

Cloves can be used whole or ground. You might include ground cloves in spice mixes and whole cloves in recipes to add depth and flavor to a wide variety of foods. These small dark brown pods are used in curries, seasoned meats, Worcestershire sauce, baked goods, chai, and Chinese five-spice blends. They also offer some health benefits.

One teaspoon of cloves has:

• Calories: 6
• Protein: Less than 1 gram
• Fat: Less than 1 gram
• Carbohydrates: 1 gram
• Fiber: 1 gram
• Sugar: Less than 1 gram

Benefits of Cloves

Some health benefits of cloves include:

Lower inflammation. Cloves contain many compounds known for their anti-inflammatory properties, with eugenol being the most important. It's been shown to reduce your body's inflammatory response, which can lower your risk of health issues such as arthritis and help manage symptoms.

Fewer free radicals. Cloves are full of antioxidants, including eugenol. Antioxidants help your body fight free radicals, which damage your cells. By removing free radicals from your system, the antioxidants found in cloves can help lower your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Reduced ulcers. Some studies show that cloves may help protect your stomach from ulcers. Most ulcers are caused by thinning of the layers of mucus that protect your stomach lining. Early research shows that eating cloves in large amounts can thicken this mucus, lowering your risk of getting ulcers and helping to heal ulcers that you already have.

Improved liver function. Cloves may also help your liver work better. Some studies have shown that eugenol found in cloves can also help reduce signs of liver cirrhosis and fatty liver disease.