What if a simple cup of tea could offer a multitude of health benefits beyond mere relaxation? Clove tea, a beverage infused with the essence of dried clove buds, is emerging as a powerhouse of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, offering a range of potential health advantages. While many are familiar with green tea, chamomile, or lemon tea, clove tea remains an underrated gem, quietly enhancing the flavor of teas and spiced drinks for generations.
What is Clove Tea?
Clove tea is made by steeping dried cloves, the aromatic flower buds of the clove tree (Syzygium aromaticum), in hot water. Native to the Spice Islands near China, cloves spread throughout Europe and Asia during the late Middle Ages. Cloves are now a popular spice known for its subtly sweet warmth. Cloves can be used whole or ground in spice mixes, curries, seasoned meats, baked goods, chai, and Chinese five-spice blends. This simple infusion extracts the cloves' bioactive compounds, including eugenol, antioxidants, and essential oils, creating a beverage with a robust flavor profile and numerous health-promoting properties.
Nutritional Profile of Cloves
Cloves are more than just a flavorful spice; they are also packed with essential nutrients. According to the National Institutes of Health, cloves contain manganese, which is important for maintaining brain function and building strong bones. One teaspoon (2 grams) of ground cloves provides:
- Calories: 6
- Carbohydrates: 1 gram
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Manganese: 55% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin K: 2% of the DV
Cloves also contain vitamin K, potassium, and beta-carotene. They are rich in antioxidants, compounds that reduce oxidative stress and the risk of chronic diseases. Research comparing clove with more than 1,100 other foods found that it had three times the antioxidants of the next highest source, dried oregano. Cloves are also a natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent, a local anesthetic, and have been found to have antifungal properties.
Health Benefits of Clove Tea
Clove tea has been used for its unique medicinal properties and as an active ingredient in Ayurveda and home remedies. Here are some of the potential health benefits of regularly drinking clove tea:
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1. Rich in Antioxidants: Cloves are full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which help fight damage in the body caused by harmful molecules called free radicals, according to a study published in Biomolecules. The eugenol in cloves acts as a natural antioxidant. By removing free radicals from your system, the antioxidants found in cloves can help lower your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
2. Aids Digestion: Clove tea stimulates the production of digestive enzymes, helping the body break down food better. It can help relieve bloating, gas, and indigestion, making it an excellent natural remedy after heavy meals and strengthening your digestive system.
3. Boosts Immunity: Cloves have natural antibacterial and antiviral properties. Clove tea can help your body fight off colds, flu, and other infections. Drinking it regularly may keep your immune system strong, especially during seasonal changes when the risk of infection is high. Clove tea is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, which help strengthen the immune system. Eugenol, the main compound in cloves, has antiviral and antibacterial properties that help the body fight infections more effectively.
4. Relieves Respiratory Issues: Clove tea can help clear your airways. Its anti-inflammatory properties ease a sore throat and help loosen mucus, making it easier to breathe. The anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties of clove tea help clear mucus and ease symptoms of colds, asthma, and bronchitis. It soothes the throat and helps open up the airways.
5. Promotes Oral Health: Cloves are known to fight bacteria that cause bad breath, cavities, and gum disease. Clove tea can help kill harmful bacteria in the mouth, reduce gum inflammation, and freshen breath when used as a mouth rinse. Clove oil has been used to ease toothache as far back as 1649, thanks to eugenol, a natural anesthetic (numbing agent). The eugenol in clove oil, when applied to teeth, may reverse or lessen the effects of dental erosion.
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6. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels: Clove tea can be helpful for people trying to manage their blood sugar levels. In a 2019 study published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, both people with and without prediabetes who took 250 milligrams of clove extract daily for 30 days showed a significant drop in their blood sugar levels after meals. This suggests that clove can help improve how the body uses insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar. Studies suggest that cloves may help manage blood sugar levels by improving insulin function.
7. Supports Liver Health: The key bioactive component in cloves, eugenol, is known to support liver function and may help reduce liver damage caused by toxic substances, reveals a study published in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. Clove tea contains antioxidants that help detoxify the liver and reduce oxidative stress. Regular intake may support liver function and protect it from damage due to toxins or fatty buildup.
8. Promotes Bone Health: Clove tea contains compounds like manganese, which is important for maintaining brain function and building strong bones, states a study published in the National Institutes of Health. Regularly drinking it may help maintain bone density, which becomes more important as you age.
9. May Possess Anti-Cancer Properties: Along with essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals, clove tea contains a compound called eugenol. As per the study published in Molecules, eugenol has anti-cancer properties that can prevent the growth of cancer cells. Some research suggests that the clove oil might help protect against cancer. Specifically, eugenol has been shown to have anticancer properties and promotes cell death in breast cancer cells.
10. Aids in Weight Loss: Cloves help in weight loss by promoting digestion and increasing metabolism. Metabolism is directly related to weight loss, and a low rate of metabolism is a sign of being overweight or obese. Clove tea can mildly boost metabolism and improve digestion, both of which support weight management. It also helps in reducing water retention and bloating, making it a good addition to weight-loss routines.
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Incorporating Clove Tea into Your Diet
Making clove tea is simple and quick. Here are a few ways to incorporate cloves into your diet:
- Clove-infused Water: Add a few whole cloves to a jug of water and let it infuse overnight. Drink this clove-infused water throughout the day to promote hydration and boost metabolism, aiding in weight loss.
- Clove Tea: Prepare clove tea by simmering a few whole cloves in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Strain and drink this aromatic tea regularly to improve digestion, suppress appetite, and enhance metabolism.
- Spice Blends: Incorporate ground cloves into homemade spice blends and use them to season your meals. Cloves add a warm, slightly spicy flavor to dishes like soups, stews, curries, and stir-fries, making them more satisfying and flavorful without adding extra calories.
- Smoothies: Add a pinch of ground cloves to your favorite smoothie recipes.
- Baked Goods: Sprinkle ground cloves into baked goods such as muffins, cakes, and cookies.
- Infused Oils: Make clove-infused oil by steeping whole cloves in olive oil or coconut oil over low heat. Use this aromatic oil for cooking or drizzling over salads and vegetables to add flavor and promote satiety.
- Homemade Chai: Prepare homemade chai tea by simmering black tea with spices like cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger in water or milk.
Potential Side Effects and Precautions
While clove tea offers numerous health benefits, it's essential to be aware of potential side effects and take necessary precautions:
- Gastrointestinal Discomfort: Drinking too much clove tea can sometimes cause gastrointestinal discomfort, leading to symptoms like nausea, bloating, or abdominal pain.
- Skin Irritation: Direct contact with clove oil or excessive consumption of clove tea may cause skin irritation, especially in individuals with sensitive skin. Symptoms may include redness, itching, or a burning sensation. Even when used on the skin or mouth, eugenol can cause allergic reactions. Signs of an allergic reaction to dental eugenol can include redness and soreness where it was applied to your gums. Some people react with a rash or welts on other parts of their body.
- Allergic Reactions: Allergic reactions can vary in severity, but symptoms are usually itching, hives, swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, or anaphylaxis. If youâre allergic to cloves, then you know you shouldnât be drinking this!
- Liver Toxicity: Clove contains compounds like eugenol, which in high doses, may exert toxic effects on the liver. Prolonged or excessive consumption of clove tea can potentially lead to liver damage or other hepatic issues. Toxic effects on the liver can occur when you take too much clove oil (typically 10-30 mL, or roughly 2-6 teaspoons). Symptoms can include agitation, decreased alertness, and coma. Babies are most likely to experience liver damage.
- Drug Interactions: Eugenol can sometimes interact with certain drugs, such as the blood thinner warfarin. If youâre taking this medication, it's best to avoid clove oil and clove tea. Small amounts of cloves as spice should be safe. Be careful if youâre taking any medications to manage blood clotting or manage your blood sugar, such as for diabetes, as the eugenol in clove may interfere with these drugs.
- Hypoglycemia: If you have diabetes, the eugenol in cloves can help lower blood glucose to safe levels. But too much clove can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which can be harmful.
- Essential Oil Toxicity: Clove essential oil has a lot more eugenol than whole or ground cloves do. Swallowing pure clove oil can be toxic and make you dizzy or cause other symptoms. Rarely, it can lead to a coma.
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: There isnât enough evidence on the effect of ingesting clove in large amounts, especially for people who are pregnant or nursing.
It is suggested to consume it in moderation and seek medical advice in case of any discomfort. Too much eugenol can be harmful, especially to children, pregnant or nursing women, individuals with blood-clotting issues, diabetes, or those who are within two weeks of surgery.
Dosage and Consumption
Clove tea is safe to drink daily, but moderation is always key. While enjoying a cup of clove tea can provide health benefits, drinking it excessively may lead to adverse effects.
- Spray or Diffuser: Mix 10-15 drops per ounce of water
- Topical: Mix 10-15 drops into a carrier oil like coconut oil. Use less if you have sensitive skin.
- Dental: Dab a cotton ball into the topical mixture and apply to the sore tooth, taking care not to touch your gums.