Yes, I’m a little late with this post but better late than never as I cannot disappoint. So, do you know cloves are one of the oldest spices used today? Cloves are the flower buds from an evergreen tree called a clove tree and harvested when they’re immature. The buds are picked and dried. The spice can be used ground or whole. Clove has a wonderful flavor yet very strong and pungent. Used all year long in both baking and cooking, it’s Cloves – September Featured Ingredient I love.
Cloves – September Featured Ingredient
So you ask what is so special about cloves? Well let’s start with what foods to use this spice in. Because cloves are both sweet and bitter yet have an unmistakable warmth and intensity. Cloves are used in meat dishes, sauces, soups, stews, and dishes containing rice. Spiced apple cider and chai tea all have cloves added for a wonderful warm and spicy drink especially when there is a chill in the air.
Cloves – September Featured Ingredient
Use cloves in pickled fruits and vegetables as you will find cloves in pickling spice. Give some of my other recipes a try where cloves are used like “Homemade Watermelon Rind Pickles”, “Spiced Cranberry Cider”, “Gingerbread Bundt Cake with Rum Glaze”, and “Spiced Citron Pecan Nuggets”. Baking is my favorite way of using cloves I truly encourage you to use cloves when using cinnamon, allspice, or nutmeg.
Cloves – September Featured Ingredient
To store ground and whole cloves, place in airtight containers like spice bottles and cloves can last 3 to 4 years. You want the spice to stay potent and full of flavor because small amounts go along way. I recommend buying as little as you think you will use within a year. You can always buy more if needed. Fall baking is upon us so enjoy using this fragrant spice.
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