Fun facts about Cloves

 

                           Picture credit: Chrome 

 By Ifejesu Aderibigbe

Cloves are small, but they are rich in flavor, fragrance, and even health benefits. These aromatic flower buds of the clove tree (Syzygium aromaticum) have been used for centuries in cooking, medicine, and even as currency.

Did you know cloves were once more valuable than gold? During the spice trade era, cloves were so highly prized that wars were fought over them. Their extreme rarity, as they only grew in a very specific region of the Maluku Islands also known as the Spice Island, drove up their cost, leading to intense competition and conflict among European powers like the Dutch and Portuguese for control over their cultivation and trade.

Apart from their historical importance, cloves offer a very wide range of health benefits. They contain a powerful compound called eugenol, which has antibacterial, antifungal, and pain-relieving properties. Till date, clove oil is commonly used to relieve toothaches, treat minor wounds, and fight infections. Cloves also support digestion. They help reduce gas, bloating, and nausea by stimulating digestive enzymes. Their anti-inflammatory nature makes them useful in soothing the gut. And yes, chewing on a clove can freshen your breath. It’s a natural mouth freshener with germ-fighting abilities.

Cloves also help regulate blood sugar.

They help in  improving insulin function and also help in managing  blood glucose levels, therefore, making them beneficial for people with diabetes. 

Cloves are useful beyond the kitchen as they are used in making perfumes, soaps, and potpourri due to their strong, spicy scent and are also used in homemade remedies due to their antiseptic and analgesic properties, such as clove-infused oils for massage and vapor rubs for colds. 

So, when next you see cloves in your spice rack, remember, they’re more than just a cooking ingredient. They are packed with a rich history, flavour and healing abilities.