The small, dried buds of the clove have a strong, pungent, sweet flavour. Popular in baked goods, cloves also add flavour and richness to vegetables such as squash and beets, curries, and beverages.

Trade between the "Clove Island" Ternate (now Indonesia) and China dates back at least 2500 years. In China, Cloves were not only used for cooking but also for deodorising. Anyone seeing the emperor had to chew Cloves to sweeten their breath.