Clove

Origin

Maluku Islands, Indonesia

The smell

Warm, spicy, intensely aromatic. Like Christmas and dentistry simultaneously along with something ancient. The eugenol is unmistakable. Dominant and assertive, a little goes a long way.

Key quality

Antimicrobial, analgesic. Eugenol used in dentistry as a natural anaesthetic. Cinnamaldehyde documented for blood sugar regulation and antimicrobial activity. Used in Egyptian embalming preparations and is one of the most historically documented medicinal spices.

Historical use

Cloves, once among the world’s most valuable spices, were controlled by the Dutch in the 17th century through forced monopolies, crop destruction, and violent suppression across the Maluku Islands. They were prized for a rare mix of flavour, medicine, and mystique, and, crucially, they came from only a tiny corner of the world.

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