The diverse medicinal properties and high nutritional value of cloves have been known since a long time. Read on to know more about clove nutrition facts.

Nutritional Value Of Cloves

Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) are dried flower buds of a tree belonging to the plant family Myrtaceae and the order Myrtales. Although they are native to India and parts of Indonesia, they are now cultivated in a number of countries around the world, with the primarily producers being countries like India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Zanzibar and Indonesia. Cloves are actually the unopened flower buds of the evergreen clove tree. They are harvested when they are young and pink in color and are dried until they change their color to dark brown. These spices are available all round the year and are regarded as delightful additions to soups and stews. It is their exclusive sweet, warm and aromatic taste that has made them one of the most sought after spices in the cuisine culture of the world. To know more about the high nutritional value present in cloves, read the Food Rating Chart given below in this article.
 
Clove Nutrition Facts
 
Amount of Cloves: 1 tbsp
Total Weight of Cloves: 6 grams
 
Nutrients
Amount
Basic Components
 
Protein 
0.4 g
Carbohydrates
4.0 g
Water
0.4 g
Ash
0.4 g
Calories
 
Total Calories
87.9 KJ
Calories From Fat
45.6 KJ
Calories From Carbohydrate
39.4 KJ
Calories From Protein
2.9 KJ
Fiber
 
Dietary Fiber
2.2 g
Starch
2.2 g
Sugars
0.2 g
Glucose
74.1 mg
Sucrose
1.3 mg
Fructose
69.5 mg
Galactose
9.8 mg
Fats
 
Total Fat
1.3 g
Saturated Fat
0.4 g
Mono Fat
0.1 g
Poly Fat 
0.5 g
Vitamins
 
Vitamin A
34.4 IU
Vitamin A
Retinal Activity Equivalent
Beta Carotene
 
1.8 mcg
5.5 mcg
Niacin
0.1 mg
Biotin
0.1 mg
Choline
2.4 mg
Vitamin C
5.3 mg
Vitamin D
5.3 mg
Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol)
0.6 mg
Vitamin E (Beta Tocopherol)
0.6 mg
Vitamin E (Gamma Tocopherol)
0.6 mg
Vitamin E (Delta Tocopherol)
0.6 mg
Folate
6.0 mcg
Vitamin K
9.2 mcg
Minerals
 
Calcium
42.0 mg
Iron
0.6 mg
Magnesium
17.2 mg
Manganese
2.0 mg
Phosphorus
6.8 mg
Potassium
71.6 mg
Selenium
0.4 mcg
Sodium
15.8 mg
Zinc
0.1 mg
Saturated Fats
 
16:0 Palmitic
258 mg
18:0 Stearic
55.1 mg
Mono Fats
 
18:1 Oleic
86.9 mg
Poly Fats
 
18:2 Linoleic
168 mg
18:3 Linolenic
277 mg
Other Fats
 
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
278 mg
Omega 6 Fatty Acids
168 mg
Amino Acids
 
Alanine
0.4 g
Arginine
0.4 g
Aspartate
0.4 g
Cystine
0.4 g
Glutamate
0.4 g
Glycine
0.4 g
Histidine
0.4 g
Isoleucine
0.4 g
Leucine
0.4 g
Lysine
0.4 g
Methionine
0.4 g
Phenylalanine
0.4 g
Proline
0.4 g
Serine
0.4 g
Threonine
0.4 g
Tryptophan
0.4 g
Tyrosine
0.4 g
Valine
0.4 g
 
Buying & Storing Tips
 
  • To get a better and richer flavor, buy whole cloves, instead of the powdered variety.
  • To check for the quality of the cloves, squeeze them with a fingernail. If they release some of their oil, they belong to a good quality stock. Alternately, try placing them in a cup of water. The good quality ones will float vertically, while the stale ones will either sink or float horizontally.
  • To get a superior and fresh quality of dried cloves, always explore the local spice stores or the ethnic markets in your area. There, you will also be able to get them for a better price, as compared to the price offered in the regular markets.
  • If possible, try to purchase cloves that have been grown organically, as this will give you better assurance that they are devoid of any form of irradiation.
  • The best way to store cloves is by placing them in a tightly sealed container, in a cool, dry and dark place. This, way ground cloves can be kept fresh for a period of about six months, while the whole cloves will remain fresh for over a year. You can further increase their shelf life by storing them in the refrigerator.

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