Clove

Clove tree ( Syzygium aromaticum ), illustration

The clove tree ( Syzygium aromaticum ) is a flowering plant in the myrtle family ( Myrtaceae ). The cloves, also called pinks or Naegeli, are the highly fragrant and burning pungent, dried flower buds of this originally in the Moluccas ( Spice Islands ) -based plant species. The term (of Low German Negelkin for little nails ) comes from the reminiscent of nails shape of the buds. The known as carnations flowers were named after the cloves because of their similar fragrance.

Description

The clove tree grows as a evergreen tree that can reach heights of growth of over 10 meters.

Synonyms for scientific names Syzygium aromaticum are Caryophyllus aromaticus, Eugenia aromatica and Eugenia caryophyllata.

History

In Europe, cloves known since the early Middle Ages. Had to trade a long time the Dutch a monopoly, which shipped the plant mainly from Ambon, and even today are cloves from the Moluccas handled (including Ternate ) to a large extent in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Meanwhile cloves are grown worldwide. As those of the best quality are those of the Moluccas, Zanzibar (the island of Pemba also the main growing area is ) and Madagascar.

Use and ingredients

The buds must be picked before the flowering of hand. After drying, they have lost three quarters of their weight. Good, fresh cloves recognized by the fact that they feel greasy and secrete some oil when pressed with a fingernail against her stem. Also the swimming test gives information about the quality: High quality cloves sink in water or put at least vertically with the head upwards. Poor, that is more or less non-fat cloves swim horizontally on the water surface.

Destined for smell, taste and effect of cloves are the essential oils contained in them, which accounts for up to 15%. They consist essentially of 70 to 85% eugenol ( which is also found in cinnamon ), about 15 % eugenol acetate and 5 to 12% β -caryophyllene. A further component is 2% oleanolic acid. Eugenol has a numbing effect, which is why chewing cloves is known as a home remedy for toothache. It should also be effective against bad breath. In a study of Spanish scientists have the content of essential oils from five Mediterranean spices ( oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage and cloves) investigated and concluded that cloves had the highest content of antioxidants ( polyphenols ). In addition to meat products and other foods they can stop fat oxidation and provide health benefits.

The little brown buds taste very intense. In the kitchen are cloves - set carefully - used to flavor marinades, sauces, sausages, meat and fish dishes, gingerbread and others. They are also part of curry powder. Eating should just get the clove head. It tastes round and noble, the stem is, however, almost pungent bitter. In fund, soups and punch to cook with whole cloves and remove them at the end of the cooking time. Ground in a mortar, they spice up Christmas cookies and curries.

The Indonesian kretek ( clove cigarettes, in German-speaking mainly known under the name of the market leader " Gudang Garam " ) contain, besides tobacco a significant proportion shredded cloves. More than half of the annual harvest is consumed for the production of Indonesian clove cigarettes.

Symbolism

In the Middle Ages the carnation was a symbol of the Passion of Christ, as the form of leaf and fruit was pictorially interpreted as " nail ". The word " clove " originated from the Middle Low German " negelken ", which translates as " little nails " meant. In Swiss German the flowers hot today " Naegeli " ( " little nails ").

In the song Good evening, good night cloves appear under the name " Näglein ".

Gallery

Fresh cloves in drying

Harvest time