Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) are flower buds in the Myrtaceae family native to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. Woody, spicy, and warm, cloves contain the compound eugenol, which is known for its antibacterial effects.

When the clove forests were first discovered in Indonesia, locals were enchanted with the fragrance and beauty of the plant, which they said "must always see the sea" in order to thrive. The clove tree is an evergreen that grows up to 40 feet tall, with large leaves and red flowers. Its flower buds - what we know as cloves - start out with a pale hue, gradually turning green until they transform into a vibrant red when they're ready for harvest. To natives of the Maluku Islands, these trees are like family; for each child born, a clove tree is planted under the belief that the fate of the tree is linked to the fate of that child.

Experts believe the oldest clove tree in the world - named Afo - is on the island of Ternate, where it was planted nearly 400 years ago. When the Dutch set fire to the Maluku Islands' clove trees in an attempt to create scarcity and drive up prices in the 17th century, the natives revolted in a battle. It wasn't until the French smuggled cloves from the East Indies in the 18th century that the Dutch monopoly was broken, and cloves were brought back to their native soil.

Named after the French word clou meaning nail, clove buds are similar in appearance to nails with their bulbous point and short stem. In Indonesia, the spice is used in a type of cigarette called kretek. While clove cigarettes were banned in the US in 2009 along with most other flavored cigarettes, they are still frequently used in cigars.

The first reference to cloves in literature comes from the Han period in China, in which the spice is listed under the name "chicken-tongue spice." As early as 200 BCE, those wishing to approach the emperor had to first chew a few cloves to sweeten their breath.

Cloves' sweet, spicy taste and scent are well-suited for teas and desserts, and they are often lumped into ingredient lists with cinnamon and allspice. Like those other warming spices, cloves contain the compound eugenol, which is known for its antibacterial effects and use as an effective local anesthetic.

Cloves were an important ingredient in the age-old Four Thieves recipe, a concoction of vinegar, herbs, and spices believed to prevent the spread of the plague in medieval Europe. Bands of thieves anointed themselves with the sweet-smelling tincture as they robbed the dead, and cloves, with their strong scent and antibacterial properties, helped mask the unpleasant aromas of the time. In a modern reimagination of the historic botanical blend, AMASS' Four Thieves line combines cloves, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and allspice for a scent that comforts and soothes. In AMASS Dry Gin, small amounts of cloves are used to impart a woody, spicy flavor.

Found in: AMASS Dry Gin and Four Thieves Botanic Hand Sanitizer