Do I need to remove clove stems before grinding?

Question

I have whole cloves and need to crush/grind them. Should I break the berry parts off the much-harder stem and just grind that, or is the whole thing meant to be used?

(I'm using a mortar and pestle, not a spice grinder, so non-mechanized manipulation may make a difference!)

moscafj · Accepted Answer

One clove is "the berry part", as you describe it, and the "stem". Use the whole thing.

Stephen Inoue · Answer

Ground cloves is supposed to be just the dried bud and not the nail. A mortar and pestile won't work well for this. A spice grinder that is all metal is preferable to plastic because the clove oil will pit and cloud the plastic. I usually buy cloves in both - whole for hams and ground for 5 spice, pumpkin pie and warm apple cider.

Answered by Stephen Inoue on December 16, 2020

Do I need to remove clove stems before grinding?

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