Clove | Zanzibar Cloves
40 grams, whole cloves
Spicy, warm with notes of raisins and chocolate
Roasting is not essential. It enhances the spiciness, and we only recommend it for savory preparations.
Some flavors develop slowly, so add them early and cook for a long time.
Whole cloves are usually not eaten.
You can also grind cloves finely with a spice grinder, for example, if you want to use them in a mix.
Pairs well with tomato, sauerkraut, red cabbage, cheese, stewed pear, fig, mango, apricot, peach, orange, and mulled wine.
This clove is less pungent and sweeter than you might be used to, with aromas reminiscent of raisins and dark chocolate. The clove has a very intense flavour, so you don't need much of it. Cloves have a warming character, making them perfect for autumnal and winter dishes.
For the import of our cloves, we work together with 1001 Organic, a fully organic 'social enterprise' in Zanzibar. They have been working with the same farmers for ten years, paying a fair price, supporting them in drying and processing the spices, and creating new commercial opportunities. In total, they work with about 500 small-scale farmers, and the profits flow back to the farmers themselves.
How is this chain structured?
All our chains have their own story. Their own plot of land, their own farmer. It is grown and processed in a specific way. Join us on a journey into the story behind this taste.
The Zanzibar cloves grow on Zanzibar itself and the adjacent island of Pemba.
The clove is grown in a food forest with various spices and other agricultural products.
Our cloves come from the autumn harvest.
Let's make an impact!
Each supply chain not only has its own story but also its own challenges. We would like to explain what impact we make per supply chain and how we address specific challenges.
By collaborating with 1001 Organic, we contribute to their mission. We are impressed by their long-term vision and dedication. They have been working with some of the farmers for over ten years and are not leaving anytime soon. We are not a major buyer, but by telling the story of 1001organics and their commitment, we hope to increase their visibility in the Netherlands.
Climate change is reducing the productivity of clove trees. And due to changing seasons, farmers have to be flexible in their work. Sufficient available capital is essential for this.
The sale of cloves is not yet very strong for us, and we can only purchase from 1001organics starting at 250kg. This means it's difficult for us to offer the latest harvest. Fortunately, whole cloves are one of the spices that retain their flavors the longest due to their sturdy flower bud.
Frequently asked questions
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Air, light, and moisture are detrimental to the quality of your spices. Therefore, store them in a tightly sealed jar or tin that is opaque (or in a dark kitchen cupboard or drawer). Also, avoid storing them above your stove, as cooking fumes can reach them there. Always ensure that you transfer spices from a repack into a well-sealed jar or tin as quickly as possible.
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The shelf life of spices is mainly determined by the loss of flavor that occurs over time, as they generally do not spoil otherwise. We use a shelf life of 2.5 - 3 years after harvest. This depends partly on the time of packaging and also on whether they are whole spices that you have to grind yourself or pre-ground powder.
Spices in the supermarket have often been on their way for 2-3 years before they are even packaged and then get a shelf life of another 3-5 years. Primarily use your senses to assess whether it's still good. At some point, there's simply no flavor left, which is a shame for that beautiful meal!
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We do not have organic certification, despite our spices meeting these standards. All farmers work in harmony with nature and without pesticides, but the certification process is unfortunately very expensive. For small farmers, it is actually unaffordable. And we want to show them that it is worthwhile to grow spices sustainably. That there are people willing to pay for a quality natural product and that they don't first have to make a huge, impossible investment in the form of certification.
Some of our farmers do have the certificate, by the way. Cooperatives, for example, can apply for the certification process jointly, making it much more affordable. But to be allowed to put this on the packaging, our entire chain would also have to be certified, including the Social Workshop where the spices are packaged. This is currently not possible, as they also work for other non-organic producers. So in short: no, we are not officially certified, but the quality and way of working are at least as good.
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Single Origin means that a product comes from one specific place. Often, harvests from different places, sometimes even from different countries and from different years, are mixed. Traders do this to develop the cheapest possible product with a consistent taste. With us, you know exactly where your spices come from, right down to the name of the farmer. This also means that the quality can sometimes vary, as it is a natural product. For example, one year might be drier than another, which can lead to a change in taste. But our farmers always strive for the highest possible taste experience, and you can taste it!
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We always strive to purchase the latest harvest. Of course, it can happen that we still have some of the previous harvest in stock while the new harvest is already ready. So, we cannot always guarantee that you will receive the very latest harvest, but we do strive for it as much as possible. On the packaging, you will find a QR code leading to a page where you can find out exactly when your spices were harvested and when they were filled into the tins/bags. With this, we aim for full transparency in our process.
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We ship to most European countries, but this will naturally incur higher shipping costs. Would you like to order from a country where this is not currently possible? Please contact us, so we can explore the options.
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At Sociale Werkplaats Siza, they do their utmost to pack orders the day after they are placed. When it's busy, it might take an extra day. They don't work on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, so if you order on a Thursday, for example, it will take a bit longer for your package to be shipped.
Once the packages are ready, they are collected by Groene Rijders and delivered by their bike couriers in their delivery areas, or outsourced to PostNL. Depending on how busy they are, they also aim to deliver within 1 working day.