Cloves are aromatic flower buds from the clove tree, native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. They are typically harvested when they are pink and dried until they turn brown. Cloves have a strong, pungent flavor with sweet undertones and are commonly used as a spice in cooking, especially in baking and savory dishes. They are also used in traditional medicine and for their essential oil, which has antiseptic properties. Cloves are known for their distinct shape, resembling small nails, which contributes to their name in Latin, “clavus,” meaning nail.