History and Origin of Cloves

Cloves are in fact dried flower buds of a tree in the Myrtle family. Cloves originate from Molucca Islands that of contemporary time belong to Indonesia. The legend says the natives of the islands planted a tree every time a child was born because they believed that the fate of the tree was linked to the fate of the child. 

Interestingly, archeologists found traces of cloves in a ceramic vessel dated as far back as 1721 BC in Syria. Hence, its geographical dispersal throughout history suggests that cloves were one of the first spices to be traded. In 226 BC, the Chinese took advantage of its pungent aroma and taste to reduce bad breath. It is said that every time someone approached the emperor, one had to chew a few cloves as a sign of respect.   

Cloves were one of the most treasured spices during the 16th and 17th century, and has been a key factor in East-West exchanges.