Garlic vs. Clove — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 29, 2024
Garlic is a pungent bulb used in cooking and herbal medicine, consisting of multiple segments called cloves; a clove, on the other hand, is one segment of a garlic bulb or a type of spice.
Difference Between Garlic and Clove
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Garlic is a bulbous plant belonging to the Allium family, commonly used for its strong flavor and numerous health benefits. Each garlic bulb is comprised of multiple cloves, which are individual segments that can be peeled and used separately. On the other hand, the term "clove" can also refer to a completely different spice derived from the dried flower buds of the clove tree, used for its intense aroma and flavor in various culinary and medicinal applications.
Garlic cloves are known for their characteristic pungent smell and strong taste, which make them a staple in cuisines worldwide. They are typically used minced, sliced, or whole in cooking. Whereas, clove spice is recognized for its sweet, warm flavor and is used in whole or ground form, often in baking, spice blends, and to flavor meats and hot beverages.
The cultivation of garlic involves growing the entire bulb in soil, with each clove planted individually to propagate new bulbs. This makes garlic a renewable resource in the kitchen garden. On the other hand, cloves are harvested from the clove tree, specifically from the unopened flower buds, which are then dried and used as a spice.
Garlic has numerous health benefits, including antibacterial and antiviral properties, and is used to boost the immune system and reduce cholesterol. Clove spice, in contrast, is praised for its antiseptic and anesthetic properties, often used in dental care products and to relieve pain from various ailments.
Garlic is typically harvested in mid-summer and stored for use throughout the year. It can be kept for several months under proper conditions. Clove spice, being a dried product, has a much longer shelf life and can retain its potency for over a year if stored in a cool, dark place.
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Comparison Chart
Type
Bulb (vegetable)
Spice (flower bud)
Usage
Cooking, medicinal
Cooking, medicinal, aromatherapy
Flavor Profile
Pungent, sharp
Sweet, aromatic
Plant Family
Allium
Myrtaceae
Propagation
Cloves from bulbs
Seed from flower buds
Compare with Definitions
Garlic
Comprises multiple cloves, each encased in its own skin.
To prepare garlic butter, start by peeling a few garlic cloves.
Clove
Aromatic dried flower bud used as a spice in cuisines worldwide.
Ground clove is commonly used in pumpkin pie spice mixes.
Garlic
Acts as a natural antibiotic and is believed to have numerous health benefits.
Garlic supplements are popular for improving heart health.
Clove
Known for its strong, penetrating aroma.
The aroma of clove is unmistakable in traditional holiday dishes.
Garlic
Bulbous plant used as a flavoring agent in cooking and in traditional medicine.
Garlic is often added to sauces to enhance their flavor.
Clove
Employed medicinally for its antiseptic and pain-relieving properties.
Clove oil is applied to alleviate toothache.
Garlic
Can be eaten raw or cooked, impacting its intensity and digestibility.
Raw garlic tends to be more pungent than cooked garlic.
Clove
Integral in spice blends like garam masala and pumpkin spice.
Clove adds a warm depth to homemade garam masala.
Garlic
Stored typically in a cool, dry place to prevent sprouting.
Store garlic in a dark pantry to extend its shelf life.
Clove
Can be used whole or ground in various culinary applications.
Whole cloves are often added to mulled wines or stews.
Garlic
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the onion genus Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, Welsh onion and Chinese onion.
Clove
Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum. They are native to the Maluku Islands (or Moluccas) in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice.
Garlic
An onionlike plant (Allium sativum) of southern Europe having a bulb that breaks up into separable cloves with a strong distinctive odor and flavor.
Clove
An evergreen tree (Syzygium aromaticum) native to the Moluccas and widely cultivated as a source of oil and for its aromatic dried flower buds.
Garlic
The bulb of this plant.
Clove
A flower bud of this plant, used whole or ground as a spice.
Garlic
To season or flavor (a food) with garlic.
Clove
One of the small sections of a separable bulb, as that of garlic.
Garlic
A plant, Allium sativum, related to the onion, having a pungent bulb much used in cooking.
Clove
A past tense of cleave1.
Garlic
(uncountable) A preparation from Allium sativum used as a food ingredient or the flavor or other characteristics of such an ingredient.
Clove
(Archaic)A past participle of cleave1.
Garlic
To flavour with garlic
Clove
A past tense of cleave2.
Garlic
A plant of the genus Allium (A. sativum is the cultivated variety), having a bulbous root, a very strong smell, and an acrid, pungent taste. Each root is composed of several lesser bulbs, called cloves of garlic, inclosed in a common membranous coat, and easily separable.
Clove
A very pungent aromatic spice, the unexpanded flower bud of the clove tree.
Garlic
A kind of jig or farce.
Clove
(countable) A clove tree, of the species Syzygium aromaticum (syn. Caryophyllus aromaticus), native to the Moluccas (Indonesian islands), which produces the spice.
Garlic
Bulbous herb of southern Europe widely naturalized; bulb breaks up into separate strong-flavored cloves
Clove
(countable) An old English measure of weight, containing 7 pounds (3.2 kg), i.e. half a stone. is this under the correct etymology?
Garlic
Aromatic bulb used as seasoning
Clove
One of the small bulbs formed in the axils of the scales of a large bulb.
Clove of garlic, garlic clove, clove of a sea-onion, clove of shallot, cloves of bulbs
Clove
Cleft.
Clove
A cleft; a gap; a ravine; - rarely used except as part of a proper name; as, Kaaterskill Clove; Stone Clove.
Clove
A very pungent aromatic spice, the unexpanded flower bud of the clove tree (Eugenia aromatica syn. Caryophullus aromatica), a native of the Molucca Isles.
Clove
One of the small bulbs developed in the axils of the scales of a large bulb, as in the case of garlic.
Developing, in the axils of its skales, new bulbs, of what gardeners call cloves.
Clove
A weight. A clove of cheese is about eight pounds, of wool, about seven pounds.
Clove
Aromatic flower bud of a clove tree; yields a spice
Clove
Moderate sized very symmetrical red-flowered evergreen widely cultivated in the tropics for its flower buds which are source of cloves
Clove
One of the small bulblets that can be split off of the axis of a larger garlic bulb
Clove
Spice from dried unopened flower bud of the clove tree; used whole or ground
Common Curiosities
What are cloves used for in cooking?
Cloves are used to add a sweet and aromatic flavor to dishes, especially in baking and in meat marinades.
What is garlic used for?
Garlic is used primarily as a seasoning and for medicinal purposes due to its potent flavor and health benefits.
How do you store garlic and cloves?
Garlic should be stored in a cool, dry place, while cloves should be kept in a tightly sealed container away from light.
Can you substitute garlic for clove in recipes?
No, garlic and clove have distinct flavors and uses, making them unsuitable substitutes for each other.
How do garlic and clove differ in taste?
Garlic has a sharp, pungent taste, whereas clove has a sweet, spicy flavor.
Are there any health risks associated with consuming garlic or cloves?
Both should be consumed in moderation; excessive garlic can cause digestive issues, while too much clove can lead to liver damage in sensitive individuals.
What dishes are best for adding clove?
Clove is great in baked goods, spiced drinks, and complex curries or stews.
What are the health benefits of clove?
Clove is appreciated for its analgesic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Is garlic or clove better for toothache?
Clove, specifically clove oil, is more commonly recommended for toothaches due to its pain-relieving properties.
Are garlic and clove expensive spices?
Garlic is generally inexpensive, while clove can be moderately priced depending on the region.
What are the health benefits of garlic?
Garlic is known for its cardiovascular benefits, immune system support, and antimicrobial properties.
How are garlic and clove harvested?
Garlic is harvested by pulling the bulb from the soil, while cloves are picked as unopened flower buds.
What dishes are best for adding garlic?
Garlic is versatile and can be added to nearly any savory dish, particularly soups, sauces, and marinades.
How does the aroma of garlic compare to that of clove?
Garlic’s aroma is strong and pungent, while clove’s is more penetrating and sweetly spiced.
Can garlic and clove be grown at home?
Garlic can easily be grown from cloves in a garden, whereas cloves require a tropical climate to grow the trees.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
