The word ‘clove’ is from the Latin word for ‘nail’. Cloves are the immature unopened flower buds of a tropical tree; they resemble small nails, with a tapered stem. The large end of the clove is the four-pointed flower bud.  It has a warm, pungent, and aromatic bouquet. Its flavour is sweetly pungent, astringent, and strongly aromatic, providing a anesthetic feel to the mouth when bitten on.