Cloves in Tea – All You Need to Know

Cloves are aromatic dried flowers of the Clove tree. Their origin is from the Spice Islands near China, primarily used in Asian cuisine.

However, cloves were introduced to Europe during the Middle Age, having versatile use in a plethora of recipes and beverages.

Cloves in tea are the most common way of using cloves in the Western world, especially because of the outstanding medicinal benefits.

The sweet, bitter, and astringent flavors make cloves unique spice, excellent as an addition to Green tea, or brewed on their own.

Clove Tea Benefits

Adding cloves to your favorite tea is an excellent idea if you’re looking for boosting your immune system and altering the taste of your infusion.

There are plenty of health benefits that come from eugenol (the main compound of cloves).

Even if you’re only considering clove tea for its extraordinary aroma, here are some of the most explored benefits that might interest you.

• Cloves are high in antioxidants that combat free radicals in your body
• Eugenol in cloves is an anti-cancerous agent and may work in reducing tumor growth
• Cloves make sure the body’s insulin production remains balanced thus prevent from diabetes
• Reducing inflammation in the body, again thanks to the eugenol compound
• Clove tea aids weight loss by increasing the metabolic rate
• Packed with antioxidants that kill bacteria and microorganisms, clove tea is excellent for skin protection
• The high content of Manganese in cloves promotes bone density and bone health
• Clove tea aids gum and teeth protection due to its potent antiseptic properties.

The information presented on this site is provided for information purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical advice or diagnosis provided by your physician or other medical professionals. Do not use this information to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or health condition. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your physician or healthcare provider.

Whole Cloves vs. Ground Cloves

The flavor and aroma of both types of cloves are the same, the only difference is the usage.

Both whole and ground cloves are dried, so the nutrient content doesn’t change.

While whole cloves are used for brewing tea or added to other beverages and removed before serving, ground cloves are typically used in cake and food recipes.

How Much Ground Clove Is a Whole Clove?

A teaspoon of whole cloves equals 3/4 teaspoon of ground cloves.

Which Clove Is Better for Tea, a Whole or Ground?

Depending on your taste, you can decide whether you prefer whole or ground clove in your tea. The difference is that you can’t strain the ground clove which means that the tea will taste stronger.

While ground clove won’t overtake the aroma of, for example, Green or Oolong tea, it will certainly add a specific flavor and release its properties into the infusion.

How Many Cloves Should I Put in My Tea?

For a cup of clove tea, you need to use a teaspoon of whole cloves which is approximately around 5-6 cloves.

In case you only have ground cloves, use 3/4 teaspoon per cup of water.

Clove Tea Recipe

• Add a teaspoon of whole cloves into a saucepan and a cup of water.
• Bring the water and the cloves to boil and remove the saucepan from the heat.
• Let it steep for 3-4 minutes and then strain.
• Serve with honey and/or a teaspoon of lemon juice.

If you want to add cloves to another tea, 3-4 whole cloves would be enough to spice it up, depending on your taste.

Can I Drink Clove Tea Every Day?

Absolutely! A cup of clove tea per day will disinfect your mouth and keep your gums healthy and bacteria-free.

Besides that, clove tea improves digestive health and promotes healthy skin, and eliminates free radicals.

Its potent antiseptic properties work wonders for your skin health, so a cup per day is surely going to keep you healthy.

Does Clove Tea Make You Sleepy?

Clove tea is known to relax muscle spasms and eliminate stress which is definitely important for quality sleep.

As per se, cloves do not contain any sedative properties like for example chamomile or valerian root, but they do aid stress relief.

All in all, cloves combined with other herbs and spices can surely improve your sleep.

Does Clove Tea Have Caffeine?

Clove tea is a herbal tea and it doesn’t contain any caffeine.

It’s not extracted from the Camellia Sinensis tea plant, so it’s totally caffeine-free.

However, if you add cloves with Green, Black, Rooibos, or Pu-erh, your clove tea will surely be caffeinated unless you opt for the decaf tea varieties.

Final Word

Cloves are flavorful dry flowers perfect as an aromatic condiment for your tea. Whether you consume them alone or with another infusion, cloves will release their invigorating sweetness with astringent tones, aiding your oral and digestive health among many other benefits.