Clove

Cloves are intrinsically linked with Christmas as the heady spice is one of the key ingredients in mulled wine, festive hams and fragrant gingerbread. The powerful clove aroma is particularly associated with the Christmas tradition of making pomanders when oranges are studded with clove buds to make fragrance balls which scent houses and serve as festive decorations. The word clove actually comes from the Latin word clavus, meaning nail, since the shaft and head of the clove bud resembles a nail. 

Old fashioned clove pomanders are perfect for the holiday season. Gathered in bowls around the home, hung in windows with a scarlet ribbon to catch the warmth of the sun, or displayed on the tree, this lovely herbal craft offers a great way to relax and unwind while spending time together with family and friends, or enjoy a little respite time alone amidst the busyness of the season. They are a lovely fragrant gift to share with others to infuse the home with cheer. Cloves are also a key ingredient in the world-famous Worcestershire Sauce and a clove-studded onion can be added to warm milk when making a basic bread sauce. A teaspoon of ground cloves can be mixed into gingerbread dough for an extra spicy kick. 

One of the earliest known spices in trade, cloves are the dried unopened floral buds of an evergreen tree. The quest for cloves is one of those events that have shaped world history. They spurred expeditions and wars, created monopolies, generated fantastic wealth and created great suffering. In medieval Europe, when all spices were scarce, expensive cloves were seen as a sign of indulgence, a show of wealth and a rare prize reserved for special occasions like Christmas. Cloves were considered an internal warming herb which helped dispel cold. They were used as a tonic and stimulant, prescribed as a digestive aid and were a familiar powerful antiseptic. This led to them being used as a breath freshener by dignitaries at the Chinese imperial court during the Han dynasty (200BC). They are still used in toothpastes and gargles today and have been trusted by generations as a first aid remedy for toothache, and to treat inflammation in the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat. They are also given for weak digestion to relieve nausea, vomiting and flatulence. 

References

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c2024 Herbie’s Spices (updated 7 Nov 2024;accessed 25 Nov 2024). Available from

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Justis A. Old-Fashioned Clove Pomanders. The Herbal Academy Holiday Maker’s

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