When you pick up a jar of clove powder at your local supermarket, it’s hard to imagine that just hundreds of years ago, wars were being fought over this aromatic, healing spice. While clove trees of today are grown all over the world, they were once exclusively found on the Maluku islands, formerly known as the “Spice Islands” of Indonesia. During this monopoly, the highly-priced clove was traded with as much friction as crude oil is today.

Cloves are essentially the immature, unripe flower buds of the clove tree. Twice a year these buds announce they are ready for harvest as they transition from a pale green to a bright red color. They are picked by hand and dried in the sun where they turn to their signature dark brown color.

Known as the “super spice” among natural healers for its incredibly high antioxidant content, clove is also a rich source of beneficial minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc, as well as vitamins A and C. Clove contains the active compound eugenol, which has remarkable anti-fungal, antiseptic, and anti-bacterial properties, making this robust spice an excellent remedy for inflammatory skin conditions such as acne and dermatitis. With its vibrant nutritional profile and healing properties, clove keeps skin healthy and blemish-free.

Sourcing note:
Dedicated to environmentally-friendly agricultural practices, this ingredient has been added to our Ethical Global Sourcing Program. Our clove powder is shipped directly from a small organic farming cooperative in Sri Lanka to our kitchen in Los Angeles. This ensures unparalleled quality and freshness for our clients and also enhances the living standards of the farmers and communities in the project areas. At present, the association consists of 52 branch societies with more than 2,600 farmers. As a fundamental concept of organic agriculture, members practice mixed cropping systems and use a natural approach to pest control through companion-planting of shade trees, bug repellent plants, and medicinal herbs. Our vision is to support environmentally-friendly agriculture along with equally-treated and economically-empowered farmers and their communities.

Found in: The Problem Solver and The Clean Dirt