Cloves

Spicy and Pungent! 

This intensely aromatic spice has a subtly sweet flavour that lends plenty of warmth to any dish. Pairing well with other rich, slightly sweet spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, cloves also have a slight note of bitterness and astringency that counterbalances the sweetness. Cloves are used to flavour sauces, beverages, soups, and rice dishes. Whole cloves are either removed before serving or picked out of the dish. Even when cooked, whole cloves have a very hard, woody texture that would be unpleasant to bite in to.