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cloves
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Cloves are the rich, brown, unopened flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum, an
evergreen tree in the myrtle family. The name comes from the French
"clou" meaning nail which dried clove buds resemble.
Cloves are native to the Molucca Islands in Indonesia. Natives of those
islands planted a clove tree for each child born and believed that the fate of
the tree was linked to the fate of that child.
Cloves have been used for thousands of years. One of the earliest
references reveals that the ancient Chinese, in order to approach the emperor,
had to have a few cloves in their mouths to sweeten the breath.
Clove is the strongest of all the aromatic spices. As a result, it is used
at fairly low levels, but in an extremely wide range of products. In the
United States, cloves are the most visible in baked ham and certain sweet
pickles. However, they have an important supporting function in countless
spice and seasoning combinations for sweet baked goods, sausages, luncheon meats
and spreads, soups, salad dressings, relishes and casserole dishes from baked
beans to pot roast.
Indonesia is still a major producer, but it is also the largest customer for
cloves, because of the national penchant for clove flavored cigarettes.
Called kreteks (because they crackle when lighted), these cigarettes are two
parts tobacco and one part cloves. Production now amounts to about 36
billion cigarettes a year, requiring approximately half of the world clove
production and dictating today's prices for cloves.
When storing herbs and spices packaging is an important consideration.
Plastic zip seal bags allow aroma and taste to escape and shorten the flavor
life of your herbs and spices.
We package our herbs and spices in food grade PET plastic jars. These
clear, dense jars allow you to see your herbs and spices while still sealing in
all the aroma and flavor so you get maximum life from your ingredients.
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herbs, spices & ingredients
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