Cloves are especially popular in chai tea, in bakeries and with mulled wine.

• Pastry shop
• Cookies (gingerbread)
• Squash or pumpkin pie
• Jams / Fruit compotes
• Marinades, Chutney
• Cocktails and drinks
• Hot drinks (chai tea, herbal tea, hot cider, mulled wine)

Clove is a pink/redish floral bud that turns dark brown when dried. This tree, the clove tree, (Syzygium aromaticum), is part of the Myrtaceae family, along with the allspice, tea tree, guava and eucalyptus.

Originally from the Moluccan Islands in Indonesia, it is now cultivated in several tropical regions of Asia, Africa, Central and South America.

This highly aromatic spice is used in savoury dishes in the kitchens of the Middle East, North Africa, China and India, where it is indispensable in spicy chai tea, as well as in garam-masala, a blend of Indian culinary spices.

The Caribbean also takes advantage of the aromatic piquancy of this spice, and is usually combined with citrus juice, rum and/or coconut milk to make tropical punch recipes. Ground cloves can be used on chicken, pork tenderloin or chops, beef steak, and even stir-fry dishes or pasta.

In the West, the strong taste of cloves is mainly used in baked goods such as gingerbread and spicy hot drinks. It is often associated with the smells of Christmas and our childhood memories through the making of an orange ball studded with cloves. Who hasn't been relieved of a toothache by the application of clove oil.