Understanding Cloves
Clove: A Taste Too Intense, or Just Right?
For most of my early life, cloves have gone relatively unnoticed as a spice used throughout cooking.
An enigma, or perhaps just folklore, it was not something readily available or commonly used in the
food I had experienced. When cooking with cloves, the flavor of food is enhanced with a warm,
spiced, and slightly
sweet taste. Be careful, clove can easily become overwhelming or intense if not used in moderation.
Adding cloves is a skill that can be utilized to add complexity to simple dishes or enhance the
flavour profile of already great ones. Too intense or just right? That is for you to play with
yourself.
Exploring Cloves
Cloves are a spice that seem unfamiliar, but once that aroma hits, the familiarity returns
in a wave of memories. From cozy holidays in grandma’s kitchen, your favourite baked goods,
and hectic holiday meals, the realization sets in that clove had always been a bigger part
of your life than originally thought. Such a warm, aromatic spice fills the house with a
grandeur that makes you wish you could stop time and live in that very moment forever.
Cooking with cloves has a way to bless you with memories and bring excitement for future
memories to be made.
Cooking With Cloves
Despite the huge impact on taste that cloves have, their use within recipes is vast. From
your favourite baked goods like cookies and cakes, to more savoury options like stews and
meats, at a glance, you almost must wonder, “What can’t I use cloves for?” Cooking with
cloves adds complexity to your everyday dishes that breathes a newfound appreciation for the
warmth, power, yet delicate layers of flavour such an intricate spice provides. Don’t take
my word for it. Try it for yourself. Cooking with cloves creates a taste of such elegance
that can only be truly appreciated once experienced firsthand.
More Uses of Cloves
Cooking with cloves is a more widely known practice, but its uses extend far beyond that. Cloves are
used for things like drinks and oil infusions and have a range of health benefits that make them
such a versatile spice. Cloves can be used in drinks like ciders to create warm aromatic depth and a
world of flavour. Medical benefits range from aiding in digestion to soothing minor aches and pains.
When infused in oil, there are antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which open a vast array
of uses. The sky is the limit with the possibilities cloves create.
Cloves In Food
When you cook with cloves, they add depth and warmth to the character of recipes that evoke comfort,
spice, and subtle sweetness. I love using cloves in dishes like slow-cooked and baked goods like
gingerbread, which fill the kitchen with delicious aromas. Their unique flavor complements cinnamon,
citrus, and savory herbs, adding a wonderful depth without overpowering the dish (when used
sparingly). From holiday hams and stews to sweeter endeavours like ginger loaves, the ever-loved
pumpkin spiced treats, and cinnamon cakes, there is an abundance of treasures you can create once
you start cooking with cloves. It only takes an adventurous soul to dive into this new world of
flavor.
