Cloves have been used as a fragrance since ancient times. They are also used as a natural remedy, known for their immunomodulatory, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, cloves serve as a powerful natural analgesic. However, cloves have other culinary virtues as well.
Cloves are also used in cooking. For instance, inserting a clove into an onion allowed broth to be preserved for a longer period without spoiling, as cloves possess strong antiseptic properties and protect the dish from bacteria, according to experts.
Others claim that in the past, onions had a much stronger flavor than today, and besides adding fragrance, sanitizing, and enhancing the dish, cloves were used to correct the strong taste of the onion and prevent it from overpowering other flavors.
Moreover, in addition to the reasons mentioned earlier, it is customary to insert a clove into an onion during culinary preparation to avoid accidentally biting into it. This technique also helps keep the clove in place in the dish.
