Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) are dried flower buds of a tree belonging to the plant family Myrtaceae and the order Myrtales. Although they are native to India and parts of Indonesia, they are now cultivated in a number of countries around the world, with the primarily producers being countries like India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Zanzibar and Indonesia. Cloves are actually the unopened flower buds of the evergreen clove tree. They are harvested when they are young and pink in color and are dried until they change their color to dark brown. These spices are available all round the year and are regarded as delightful additions to soups and stews. It is their exclusive sweet, warm and aromatic taste that has made them one of the most sought after spices in the cuisine culture of the world. To know more about the high nutritional value present in cloves, read the Food Rating Chart given below in this article.
Clove Nutrition Facts
Amount of Cloves: 1 tbsp
Total Weight of Cloves: 6 grams
| Nutrients | Amount |
| Basic Components | |
| Protein | 0.4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 4.0 g |
| Water | 0.4 g |
| Ash | 0.4 g |
| Calories | |
| Total Calories | 87.9 KJ |
| Calories From Fat | 45.6 KJ |
| Calories From Carbohydrate | 39.4 KJ |
| Calories From Protein | 2.9 KJ |
| Fiber | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.2 g |
| Starch | 2.2 g |
| Sugars | 0.2 g |
| Glucose | 74.1 mg |
| Sucrose | 1.3 mg |
| Fructose | 69.5 mg |
| Galactose | 9.8 mg |
| Fats | |
| Total Fat | 1.3 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.4 g |
| Mono Fat | 0.1 g |
| Poly Fat | 0.5 g |
| Vitamins | |
| Vitamin A | 34.4 IU |
| Vitamin A Retinal Activity Equivalent Beta Carotene | 1.8 mcg 5.5 mcg |
| Niacin | 0.1 mg |
| Biotin | 0.1 mg |
| Choline | 2.4 mg |
| Vitamin C | 5.3 mg |
| Vitamin D | 5.3 mg |
| Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol) | 0.6 mg |
| Vitamin E (Beta Tocopherol) | 0.6 mg |
| Vitamin E (Gamma Tocopherol) | 0.6 mg |
| Vitamin E (Delta Tocopherol) | 0.6 mg |
| Folate | 6.0 mcg |
| Vitamin K | 9.2 mcg |
| Minerals | |
| Calcium | 42.0 mg |
| Iron | 0.6 mg |
| Magnesium | 17.2 mg |
| Manganese | 2.0 mg |
| Phosphorus | 6.8 mg |
| Potassium | 71.6 mg |
| Selenium | 0.4 mcg |
| Sodium | 15.8 mg |
| Zinc | 0.1 mg |
| Saturated Fats | |
| 16:0 Palmitic | 258 mg |
| 18:0 Stearic | 55.1 mg |
| Mono Fats | |
| 18:1 Oleic | 86.9 mg |
| Poly Fats | |
| 18:2 Linoleic | 168 mg |
| 18:3 Linolenic | 277 mg |
| Other Fats | |
| Omega 3 Fatty Acids | 278 mg |
| Omega 6 Fatty Acids | 168 mg |
| Amino Acids | |
| Alanine | 0.4 g |
| Arginine | 0.4 g |
| Aspartate | 0.4 g |
| Cystine | 0.4 g |
| Glutamate | 0.4 g |
| Glycine | 0.4 g |
| Histidine | 0.4 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.4 g |
| Leucine | 0.4 g |
| Lysine | 0.4 g |
| Methionine | 0.4 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.4 g |
| Proline | 0.4 g |
| Serine | 0.4 g |
| Threonine | 0.4 g |
| Tryptophan | 0.4 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.4 g |
| Valine | 0.4 g |
Buying & Storing Tips
- To get a better and richer flavor, buy whole cloves, instead of the powdered variety.
- To check for the quality of the cloves, squeeze them with a fingernail. If they release some of their oil, they belong to a good quality stock. Alternately, try placing them in a cup of water. The good quality ones will float vertically, while the stale ones will either sink or float horizontally.
- To get a superior and fresh quality of dried cloves, always explore the local spice stores or the ethnic markets in your area. There, you will also be able to get them for a better price, as compared to the price offered in the regular markets.
- If possible, try to purchase cloves that have been grown organically, as this will give you better assurance that they are devoid of any form of irradiation.
- The best way to store cloves is by placing them in a tightly sealed container, in a cool, dry and dark place. This, way ground cloves can be kept fresh for a period of about six months, while the whole cloves will remain fresh for over a year. You can further increase their shelf life by storing them in the refrigerator.
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