Clove

A sweet, but very strong spice obtained as an unopened flower bud of an evergreen tree belonging to the myrtle tree family. It can be used whole as a dried bud or it can be ground into a powder and added to a variety of sweet and savory dishes. Cloves are commonly used to flavor baked hams, to be inserted into oranges for holiday celebrations, and to add a seasoned flavor to cookies, meats, curries, sauces, and a variety of other foods. Store cloves in a cool dry area, packaged in an airtight container for up to a year if whole or 3 months if ground. Cloves will begin to loose their strong flavor when stored longer than the 1 year whole or 3 months ground.