Cloves: Benefits, Uses and Safe Daily Limits Based on Evidence
Cloves are more than a baking spice — they concentrate one of the most studied plant compounds in the kitchen. Here is what they do and where the line is.
Medically reviewed by Marie Leblanc, RD
Registered Dietitian, Montréal QC
Written by UnityLife Admin
Updated April 2026 · Reviewed April 2026
Cloves are the dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum, the tree most Canadians recognize from mulled wine and pumpkin pie. Beyond flavour, cloves are one of the highest-antioxidant foods you can buy — their oil is 85% eugenol, a compound with real anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial effects.
What makes cloves unique
One gram of ground cloves delivers more antioxidant capacity (ORAC) than a cup of blueberries. Eugenol, the main volatile oil, has been used in dentistry as a local anaesthetic for over a century.
Cloves also contain small amounts of manganese, vitamin K, fibre and beta-carotene — at spice-level doses the micronutrients matter less than the eugenol does.
The strongest-supported uses
Dental pain: a dab of clove oil on a cotton swab pressed against a painful tooth reliably numbs the area for 15–30 minutes while you wait for your dentist.
Blood sugar: small trials show that 1–3 g of whole or ground cloves per day with meals modestly lowers post-meal glucose in adults with insulin resistance.
Antimicrobial action in the mouth: clove-containing mouthwashes reduce plaque and gingivitis measurably.
How to use cloves safely
Cooking: add 2–4 whole cloves to rice, stews, chai or mulled cider. Remove the whole cloves before serving — biting one is intensely bitter.
Tea: steep 3–4 whole cloves in hot water with a slice of ginger for 5 minutes.
Oil: clove essential oil is very concentrated. Never swallow undiluted clove oil. For a tooth, use a single drop on a cotton swab and pause between applications.
When to be careful
Clove oil taken orally in large amounts can damage the liver. Never exceed the label on any clove oil capsule product.
Eugenol has mild blood-thinning effects. If you’re on warfarin, aspirin or scheduled for surgery within two weeks, stick to kitchen-sized doses only.
The bottom line
Cloves are a tiny spice with outsized evidence behind them. Cooking-scale amounts are safe and useful; essential-oil amounts require respect.
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The bottom line
Cloves are a tiny spice with outsized evidence behind them. Cooking-scale amounts are safe and useful; essential-oil amounts require respect.
Frequently asked questions
You can, briefly, for breath-freshening. The taste is intense and eugenol is strong — a minute is enough.
Sources & further reading
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