What better scent is there than clove-studded oranges during the holidays? Cloves have been a highly-sought-after spice in Europe ever since the 1400s. Native to Indonesia, the Dutch had a monopoly on supplying cloves to their European neighbors until France managed to smuggle out some trees and cultivate the spice in Mauritius in the late 1700s.
There is so much oil in a fresh bud that it can be squeezed out with your fingernail–due to its numbing properties, clove oil is a temporary home remedy for toothache. It is also a moderate germicide and has been used in mouthwash.
Cloves are used in sweet goods, such as spice cookies and squash breads, and also can be used to flavor stocks and stews: just stud a whole onion with 3-4 cloves and add it to your base.
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Tags: cloves, dutch, indonesia, spice history
