Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree. The clove tree is an evergreen that grows up to 8–12 m tall, with large leaves and sanguine flowers grouped in terminal clusters. The flower buds initially have a pale hue, gradually turn green, then transition to a bright red when ready for harvest. Cloves are available throughout the year.

Usage
Cloves are used in the cuisines, lending flavor to meats, curries, and marinades.
Cloves are used to give aromatic and flavor qualities to hot beverages.
Cloves essential oil is used as an anodyne (painkiller) for dental emergencies and when stimulation and warming are needed, especially for digestive problems.
Clove oil is used in preparation of some toothpastes and Clovacaine solution, which is a local anesthetic used in oral ulceration and inflammation.

Benefits
1. The active principles in the clove are known to have antioxidant, anti-septic, local anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, rubefacient (warming and soothing), carminative and anti-flatulent properties.
2. The spice contains health benefiting essential oils such as eugenol. It is a phenyl-propanoids class of chemical compound which gives pleasant, sweet aromatic fragrances to the clove-bud.
3. The spice also contains a good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, selenium and magnesium.
4. The active principles in the clove may increase gut motility as well as improve the digestion power through increasing gastro-intestinal enzyme secretions. Thus, helps relieve indigestion and constipation problems.
5. The spice buds contain very good amounts of vitamin A and beta-carotene levels. These compounds are known to have antioxidant properties.
6. This spice is a good source of vitamin-K, vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), thiamin (vitamin B-1), vitamin-C and riboflavin. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals.
7. The essential oil, eugenol in this spice has been in therapeutic use in dentistry as a local-anesthetic and antiseptic for teeth and gum.
8. Its decoction is sometimes used in treating flatulence and indigestion in traditional medicine preparations.
9. The essential volatile oils functions as a rubefacient, meaning that it irritates the skin and expands the blood vessels, increasing the flow of blood to make the skin feel warmer, making it a popular home remedy for arthritis and sore muscles, used either as a poultice or in hot baths.
10. It is also thought to have natural anti-parasite (kills intestinal worms) function.
11. Clove oil is also used in aromatherapy.