The clove plant is nurtured and appreciated around the world as a spice and a medicinal herb. Cloves are the most well-known spice in the group of spices known as “flower spices”. Cloves have been produced and cultivated in several countries such as Sri Lanka, Mexico, Kenya, etc where the weather is warm but the clove tree is truly native to Indonesia. Cloves are fully developed buds that are grown from the trees scientifically classified as “Syzygium aromaticum”.
Cloves are popular in the culinary and commercial world for their distinctive flavour and aroma. Clove has a sweet and pungent aroma with a strong sweet flavour. They have a very unique and strong flavour and are used sparingly in culinary applications. Cloves are sprinkled onto chutneys, sauces, curry dishes, and desserts. They are also used for the production of several tea blends and can be added to a warm cup of tea made at home. They are also widely used for their versatile medicinal properties. Cloves contain essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that are beneficial for the human body. They are also high in antioxidants, have antibacterial properties that can soothe several diseases and pains. They are used to treat stomach ulcers, regulate blood sugar levels, improve bone and liver health, and more. Buy cloves to attain its various culinary benefits as well as to improve your general health and quality of life.
Clove trees are estimated to grow as high as 40 feet tall and are easy to identify due to their unique blueish gray bark. The clove trees are large in size and are aromatic dark green leaves that grow up to five inches which tend to grow in pairs. Cloves are propagated through seeds during the summer months of June-October. The boughs of the tree bear inch-long red blossoms that group together in clusters near the tip of the branch. This phenomenon usually happens from July to October and once more from November to January.
The fragrance of the blooms attracts bees and other pollinators to your garden while also adding vibrancy to your garden. Buy cloves from reputed vendors whether it be online or offline to make sure that you are purchasing high-quality cloves.
Clove trees require certain specific weather conditions to grow optimally. It is impossible for the spice to grow in cool climate areas. The plant requires hot, humid, and relatively wet conditions. Ideally, it is cultivated in tropical regions or a rainforest, or a jungle. If you wish to plant clove trees in your yard, make sure to plant and grow them only if you live in an area that satisfies these necessary conditions. Clove trees also require a minimum of 50 to 70 inches of annual rainfall per year. Ideally, they are planted in a region where the temperature does not drop below 15°C. Any attempt made to grow a clove tree outdoors in a temperate zone will result in failure. You can attempt to copy the natural conditions that a clove tree requires if you plan to grow it indoors as a houseplant. You need to make sure that the tree is sheltered from any extreme instances of cold or heat that the weather may bring. Buy cloves from farms or stores that have taken the necessary steps to grow them in ideal and suitable conditions.
Clove trees are often grown from planting a seed. Plant clove seeds in fertile loam and water in well-drained soils. When first planting a clove seed make sure you place the seedlings in an area where they are protected and shaded by larger plants for the first couple of years of their lifespan. Buy clove seeds from a reputable source and wet the soil before planting. Buy clove seeds that are pollinated and keep the soil wet but not excessively wet. Make sure to plant clove seeds directly on the surface of the ground. The seeds need not necessarily be buried under the soil as they can start adjusting to their new homes otherwise too. With time the clove tree seedlings should start to sprout in large quantities. Transfer your clove seedlings into a larger pot when they have reached a height of 2.5 centimeters.
Water your clove plants regularly especially during periods of excessive heat or drought in your region. A balance should be maintained when it comes to watering the clove trees. Light watering and frequent misting are the recommended means of replicating the humidity of the clove plant’s native tropical conditions if the environment of the region where you live doesn’t match the specific requirements.
Cloves consist of the unopened flower buds of the tropical clove tree which are collected and dried in the sun. Buds must be picked fairly early and dried before they turn into a fully mature clove. The highest quality cloves are usually reddish-brown in colour. To harvest cloves, pick the unopened buds before they turn pink and are no more than two centimeters in length. You should set them aside and dry the buds in the sunlight or an airtight jar until they lose around two-thirds of their weight and the colour of the buds has turned dark brown. Dried cloves don’t tend to have a long shelf life as they lose their flavour fairly quickly. Buy clove from your local grocery store and preserve it in an airtight container out of direct sunlight and use them in a year to make the most out of it.
