clove

[Eeyore]

Is there anyone out there who hates clove as much as I do?

Ive hated it all my life. When my mom would bake a ham she would always stick cloves in it all over. So for most of my childhood I thought I hated ham. I also thought I hated apple cider because it so often had clove in it. Last time I was in Vermont I went to an apple orchard. They sold cider in the little shop. I couldnt even walk in. The smell of clove was so strong to me.

I cant imagine anyone could like it. but obviously people do. How strange that we react so differently to the same smells and tastes.

eeyore

[siduri]

I love clove, it's my favorite spice. I've actually been looking for years for a clove-based perfume, i like it so much. I mostly like it in sweet things, not salty, and it's too strong for ham, in my opinion, dominates the taste.
But my reaction to cilantro is as strong as yours to clove, i hate it, and has made me not really be able to learn to enjoy mexican or indian cuisine, i keep running into the cilantro. (it smells like stink bugs to me).
Smell is very evocative, and many very strong memories are tied to smell, and probably this accounts for the huge reactions people have, positive and negative - to flavors.

[castironchef]

I love it and use if fair amount, either whole or I'll use a mortar & pestle to grind it up. Works well mixed with nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, etc.

[foodpump]

I like cloves---in small amounts.
It is extremely popular in Indonasia and Malaysia where they--yes,--they smoke it. Mixed up with tobacco and smoked, Think they call it Kretek, name mimiks the snap, crackle, and pop, of a clove cigarette burning. Nothing, uh, special about clove cigarettes , other than the smell.

[indianwells]

I only use it to perfume my Pilau Rice.

[foodnfoto]

I like clove a lot, but only when used in judicious amounts. My experience with a lot of cooks is that they tend to use too much of it, thus overpowering a dish.
Somehow, gingerbread is just not right without a pinch of clove, and Cuban picodillo needs just a touch for that deep, round flavor.

I was looking for a new cologne recently and sampled "Red Door"--yep, you guessed it--CLOVE! was the predominant scent. Not really my cup of tea for a cologne, but maybe you should check it out Siduri.

[oldschool1982]

It has it's place in several of my recipies, both sweet and savory. It's essential to a bouquet garni. I do to agree with foodnfoto that it can be used to overpowering proportions. It's kinda like garlic and cilantro. Once folks get a hold of it they start adding it by the pound. In moderation as a background flavor, one that just tingles the taste buds, is what I consider it's best use. Although the clove candycanes we buy for the Christmas tree are always the first gone.

[paddy]

I like it and use it in Indian food and chilli sometimes depending on what I feel like.

paddy
Michigan

[Suzanne]

I love it. My husband hates it. I don't tell him when I've used it.

He might dislike it because oil of clove is associated with dentistry -- used to be used as a toothache pain-reliever -- and iirc, Lavoris mouthwash tasted of clove. Then again, as others have already pointed out, it is one very, very strong flavor, a little goes a long way, and many people just use too much!

[Eeyore]

How odd!! You cant stand my favorite herb. And your favorite spice is my least favorite flavor in the world. Must be some genetic thing. there must be some continuim and we're on either ends. lol Did you ever see the movie "Unbreakable"? If so it's kinda like that.

If someone uses a little bit of clove, that seems to be all I can taste. I can smell it a mile away.

Does anyone remember Clove Gum? NASTY! It was actually clove-flavored gum.

Recently, I must say, Ive had some pumpkin pie that had a small amount of clove and I could stand it. It was ok. But it was very faint. Maybe Im coming around.

eeyore

[gonefishin]

A "like it" category would be good


I do like it...in moderation. But when it's not there...I just keep tasting for it. where is it!


ahhhh...clove


dan

[siduri]

Originally Posted by foodnfoto

I was looking for a new cologne recently and sampled "Red Door"--yep, you guessed it--CLOVE! was the predominant scent. Not really my cup of tea for a cologne, but maybe you should check it out Siduri.

I will indeed, thanks so much foodnfoto. I realize i'll smell like a walking gingerbread, but there are worse things!

eeyore, yes, really interesting, there could be some kind of special connection between them. I wonder.

[allie]

I used whole cloves on ham and liked it. Other than that, the most I've used it for is simmering on the stove with cinnamon sticks to make my house smell nice at Christmas or in mulled apple cider. I really need to experiment with it more!

[Mezzaluna]

I like it in moderation too.

I love it. My husband hates it. I don't tell him when I've used it.

Suzanne, this describes my use of cumin perfectly!

[sniperheartz]

Love It! It's use a lot with Thai food.