Cloves are the dried flower buds of an evergreen tree native to the spice islands, with an intensely warm, sweet-pungent aroma. A few whole cloves lift rice dishes, curries, and mulled drinks, while ground clove powder blends more easily into baking, marinades, and spice mixes like garam masala. Because their flavour is strong, cloves are used sparingly — a little goes a long way.