Clove Health Benefits: Uses, Nutrition & How to Use Cloves

Cloves may be small, but they are packed with flavor and naturally occurring plant compounds. This aromatic spice has been used for centuries in cooking and traditional practices, and today it is often discussed for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Let’s explore more about cloves.

What Are Cloves?

Cloves are the dried flower of the Syzygium aromaticum tree, an evergreen native to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia.

They have a strong, warm, slightly sweet flavor and are commonly used in both sweet and savory dishes. Cloves are particularly rich in eugenol, a plant well known for distinctive aroma and their biological activity. Personally, I’d say it doesn’t smell bad but definitely smells just like something you’d find at the dentist’s office.

Anyway, cloves have antioxidant properties, and if we’re comparing antioxidant concentration with blueberries, cloves win by a huge margin. Yes, you read it right. Read more below.

Potential Benefits of Cloves

1. Rich in antioxidants

As I mentioned above, cloves contain antioxidant compounds, particularly eugenol. Science shows that antioxidants help protect cells from oxidative stress caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.

2. May have antimicrobial properties

Laboratory studies have shown that eugenol and other compounds found in cloves have demonstrated antimicrobial activity.

Looks like this is one of the reasons cloves has traditionally been used in oral-care products and food preservation. However, laboratory antimicrobial effects do not necessarily mean that consuming cloves can treat an infection.

3. May support oral health

Clove has a long history of use in traditional dental care…I told you about dentist’s office. Eugenol has numbing and antimicrobial properties and is used in some professional dental materials.

Clove oil, in particular, should never be applied directly to the gums or swallowed without appropriate dilution and professional guidance, because concentrated essential oils can irritate or damage tissue.

For everyday use, incorporating small amounts of culinary clove into food or beverages is a much gentler approach.

4. May support digestion

Cloves have traditionally been used after meals and in herbal preparations intended to support digestion.

There is some preliminary research suggesting that compounds in cloves may influence digestive processes, but stronger human research is needed before making firm claims about digestive benefits.

5. May help support healthy blood sugar levels

Some laboratory and early human research have investigated whether compounds in cloves may affect glucose metabolism.

However, cloves should not be considered a treatment for diabetes or a substitute for prescribed medication. There is not enough scientific evidence, and more research is needed to determine whether the amounts normally consumed in food have a meaningful effect on blood sugar.

6. May have anti-inflammatory properties

Eugenol and other compounds in cloves have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory and experimental research.

This is promising, but it is important to make the difference between laboratory findings and proven health effects in humans.

How to Use Cloves

The easiest way to enjoy cloves is simply to use them as a spice.

☕ Clove Tea

One of the simplest options is clove-infused water.

You will need:

• • 2–4 whole cloves
  • 1 cup of water

How to make it:

1. 1. Bring the water to a boil.

   2. Add the cloves.
   3. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5–10 minutes.
   4. Strain and allow it to cool slightly.

   5. Drink warm.

You can add a small amount of cinnamon, ginger, lemon, or honey for flavor.

There is no need to make the tea extremely concentrated. More is not necessarily better.

🍵 Add Cloves to Tea

Add one or two whole cloves to black tea, green tea, chai, or herbal tea while it steeps.

The flavor is strong, so a little goes a long way.

🥣 Add Ground Cloves to Food

Ground cloves can be added to:

• • Oatmeal
  • Yogurt
  • Smoothies
  • Applesauce
  • Baked apples
  • Pumpkin dishes
  • Gingerbread
  • Muffins
  • Rice dishes
  • Curries
  • Marinades

You can also combine cloves with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg for a warm spice blend.

🍋 Clove and Lemon Water

For a simple flavored drink, steep a few whole cloves in hot water and add lemon after the drink has cooled slightly.

Keep in mind that this is primarily a flavorful beverage—not a detox treatment.

Whole Cloves vs. Ground Cloves

Both forms can be useful, but the difference might be on how and where we can use them.

I would say that whole cloves are ideal for tea, mulled beverages, and recipes where you can remove them before serving.

Ground cloves might be convenient for baking, oatmeal, smoothies, spice blends, and other foods where the spice is meant to remain in the dish, and its powder structure does not cause problems.

Tip: I would suggest starting with a small amount and increase it according to taste because of the strong flavor.

What About Clove Water Every Day?

Clove water has become popular online as a wellness drink, but many of the health claims surrounding it go beyond what scientific evidence currently supports.

Drinking a mild clove infusion occasionally is generally a culinary use of the spice. However, there is no established requirement to drink concentrated clove water every day, and there is not enough evidence to say that doing so provides special health benefits.

You don’t need large amounts of cloves to benefit from their flavor and naturally occurring compounds.

Important Safety Considerations

Cloves are generally used in small amounts as a food spice, but concentrated clove products are different.

Clove essential oil is highly concentrated and can be harmful if swallowed or used improperly. Large amounts of eugenol can be toxic and may affect the liver or increase bleeding risk.

People taking blood-thinning medications, those with bleeding disorders, or people preparing for surgery should talk with a healthcare professional before using concentrated clove products.

Children should not be given concentrated clove oil unless specifically directed by a healthcare professional.

Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should also discuss medicinal or concentrated use with a healthcare professional.