The Popularity of Cloves at Christmas
Cloves are a popular spice used at Christmas time.
We automatically think of the clove-studded orange which provides a wonderful aroma and has great preservative qualities. It has been shown to extend the shelf life of various foods.
edicinally, the spice is useful for digestive upset, nausea and skin infections and its numbing properties have made it useful for treating toothaches.
The spice is high in anti-oxidants, can lower blood pressure, regulate blood sugar levels, may reduce stomach ulcers and improve liver health. It contains the compound eugenol, which has been shown to have anti-cancer properties.
Cloves come from the dried, unopened flower buds of a tender evergreen tree that grows in the tropics.
Clove is native to the North Moluccas, the Spice Islands of Indonesia. It is one of Europe‘s most sought after spices and is popular at Christmas because it is inexpensive, probably due to the French.
Historically, the Dutch monopolized the global clove market as they regulated trade and drove up prices. The French established their own clove plantations and made cloves a cheap and widely available spice.
As a result, cloves eventually found their way into mincemeat pies, Christmas pudding and the ancient drink of Wassail.
Clove’s sharp, spicy scent can be euphoric and grounding as well as warming for cold winter nights.
It is especially useful in baking as it is a warming herb that is good for digestion when people tend to eat heavier foods during Christmas and in the winter.
Look for cloves in cookies like gingersnaps, pumpkin pie and apple pie, glazed ham, mulled wine, curried soup, chai tea and biscotti. Enjoy more cloves today!