Whole Cloves

Whole cloves are the dried, unopened flower buds of the clove tree, with a strong, warm and slightly sweet aroma. In Lebanese and Middle Eastern kitchens they are added whole to rice dishes, meat and chicken stews and broths, or ground into spice blends. A few buds are often simmered in tea or other warm drinks, studded into roasts, or used in baking, jams and pickles. Because their flavour is intense, only a small amount is usually needed. You can find whole cloves, sold by weight, at Dekenet Al Nes in Baaqline, in the Chouf. We are a package-free grocery store, so customers are encouraged to bring their own jar or container and fill only the quantity they need, which helps cut single-use packaging and plastic waste.