The newest addition to our range is delicious sweet cloves from Zanzibar. We have set up a collaboration with 1001 Organic, an organization that works with small-scale farmers in Tanzania. They ensure that farmers are trained to cultivate more sustainably, that they receive a better price for their spices, and that they are assured of a stable income.
What exactly are cloves?
Cloves are actually dried (still closed) flower buds of a clove tree.
The clove tree grows wild on the Moluccas and New Guinea. In the 16th century, the Portuguese began to spread it, and the Dutch also played a major (and certainly not pretty) role in the trade of this spice. Later, in the 19th century, the trees were also planted in Malaysia, Sumatra, India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Zanzibar, Madagascar, and Brazil.
The flower buds of the clove tree start as green buds and gradually turn pink before they bloom. The buds are harvested just before they open, to capture their characteristic sweet-spicy taste and aroma.
Optimal growing conditions for clove trees
Clove trees thrive in tropical climates with warm temperatures, constant humidity, and well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. They need plenty of sunlight to yield an optimal harvest and must be protected from strong winds and cold, which can affect the health of the trees. Clove trees are usually grown by planting seeds or young seedlings, spaced about 3-4 meters apart, and with a constant moisture supply for successful growth.
An interesting aspect of clove cultivation is a phenomenon known as "induced flowering." By regularly removing flower buds, the tree can respond by producing more buds to promote reproduction. However, too much pruning can stress the tree and potentially reduce productivity. A balanced approach is therefore important. This promotes consistent bud production and keeps the tree healthy.
Harvesting usually begins 4-6 years after planting, when the trees are fully grown. Mature trees can yield multiple harvests per year and continue to produce for many years, making cloves a long-term investment for farmers.
Challenges for Clove Production
Over time, clove yields have declined, mainly due to climate change and deforestation. Rising temperatures affect the growth of clove trees, reducing their size and productivity. Where farmers previously produced 2-3 tons of cloves per farm, productivity has decreased as natural forests—home to pollinating birds and animals—have disappeared. These forests supported biodiversity, with natural pest control and pollination. Deforestation due to unsustainable practices, such as logging for charcoal, has led to infertile soils and a decrease in crop yields.
Sustainable Agroforestry: A Solution
Agroforestry offers a promising solution for sustainable clove cultivation. By growing crops like cloves, cinnamon, and vanilla alongside native trees and other plants, a company like 1001 Organic supports biodiversity, enriches soil health, and provides natural pest control and shade. This method benefits small-scale farmers, improves productivity, and creates a balanced ecosystem that contributes to nature conservation and sustainable agriculture. Collaborations with governments and international organizations can help create alternative employment opportunities and reduce the need for unsustainable practices, such as illegal logging.
Cooking with cloves
We have often noticed that cooking with spices is not necessarily common in the areas where the spices grow. More often, they are used as natural medicine. Juma, a farmer from Pemba, responded to the question of how he uses cloves in his household: "I usually grind cloves into a powder and store it in a bottle to be used to treating illnesses, like stomach ache, fever and toothache. I don't use it for any other reason apart from that."
At 1001 Organic, they enjoy making Spice bread with a lot of spices, including cloves. In France, Pain d'Épices (spice bread) is a traditional holiday food. This spiced bread can be served with a cheese board, for example, or even for breakfast. A recipe for this bread can be found here.
Another recipe I came across is more of a cake than a bread, but the author calls it 'Harvest spice bread' and it sounds fantastic. A kind of mix between apple cake, spice bread, pumpkin spice cake, and carrot cake. I will definitely test this recipe, but if you want to get started with it already: you can find it here. Also fun: bake your own Dutch gingerbread!
In the Netherlands, we use cloves quite a lot, especially during the autumn and winter months. Cloves are essential in mulled wine, stewed pears, red cabbage, and stewed meat. But spice mixes like garam masala, pumpkin spice, and speculaas spices also contain cloves. Also delicious: pilaf (for example, this Bengali pilaf by Asma Kahn) or make a pumpkin chutney with cloves.
Cloves also pair well with fruit. For example, combine it with orange, apricot, or fig.
Another application where we know cloves is, of course, clove cheese, where cloves are combined with cumin in a Dutch cheese. This originated during the time of the VOC. Frisian cheese at that time had little flavor of its own, so flavorings were added. Including cloves. Thanks to the preserving effect of cloves, the cheese also became more suitable for travel.
Other benefits of cloves
As with many spices, health benefits are also attributed to cloves. The farmers don't keep it in their medicine cabinet for nothing ;-).
In Ayurveda, cloves are also used for relaxation. Its warming and relaxing properties are said to help against stress.
