Spice · 22 March 2026 · 3 min read
The Story Of Zanzibar Cloves
No spice is more associated with Zanzibar than the clove — an unopened flower bud, picked by hand and dried in the sun.
What a clove actually is
Cloves are flower buds harvested before they open. Timing is everything: too early and the flavour is thin, too late and the bud flowers and loses commercial value. Harvesting is done by hand, often from ladders.
Drying
Buds are spread out to dry in the sun over several days, turning from pale green to the deep red-brown familiar from the spice rack. Good drying is what gives a clove its glossy surface and heavy aroma.
Cooking with cloves
Cloves reward restraint. Use whole in rice, braises and chai and remove before serving; use ground sparingly in baking. Toasting briefly in a dry pan lifts the aroma without bitterness.
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