Hard to believe that these aromatic little herbs were so valuable that nations fought over who controlled the trade routes of this spice
Cloves are the quintessential Christmas Herb
their bold aroma and ability to give a rich flavor boost with just one or two of the small, dried, nail shaped blossoms is appreciated by seasoned cooks and and novices alike.
But their value goes so much deeper 💫
Cloves have an affinity for oral health – legend has it that one was required to chew cloves before having audience with the Emperor so he would’t be offerended by bad breath, we now know that the oil from cloves reduces gingivitis, inflammation, plaques and bacteria in the mouth. 👊🏻(those emperor’s were no dummy’s)
Clove powder and its constituents have also been shown to reduce blood sugar levels and decrease insulin resistance.
The extract has been used to decrease the size of tumor cells and animal studies have shown that adding clove extract to the diet significantly reduced abdominal fat, liver fat and obesity.
Since just 1/2 tsp of this herb has more phytonutrients and antioxidants than a cup of blueberries, a little bit of this herb goes a LONG way.
Isn’t in nice to know that adding just a small amount to dishes and drinks DOES have significant health benefits!
How else can you use them? In traditional medicine cloves have been used to treat diarrhea, hiccups, poor appetite, nausea and general weakness. an herbal blend that includes cloves is a great place to start.
Toothache anyone? Grab a clove and place it over the affected tooth. Its naturally numbing, pain relieving and anti-bacterial.
Clove essential oil has been used as well – but MUST be really strongly diluted ex: 2 Tablespoons of olive oil to 1-2 drops of clove essential oil. Note: clove essential oil is NOT safe for anyone under 2.
The original people who tended these evergreen trees had such a connection to them- planting a new one with the birth of each baby can you imagine how amazing it would be to see those groves grow as their village populations swelled?
Just one tree in its prime can produce enough blossoms to create 40lbs of cloves and their ancient culture believed that the tree represented the life and capacity of the individual it was planted for. So it makes sense that they fought back when greedy traders tried to destroy entire groves to try and control access.
This herb was SO valuable in Europe for both seasoning and meat preservation that at times they sold or 2000 times the cost it took to obtain them from these islands. Countries fought fiercely to control trade routes and profits until a missionary was able to smuggle seeds out and begin planting them in other parts of the world which increased supply dramatically.
