You’ve probably heard of cloves and even used them yourself in baking and cooking. It is a popular spice used to add both a warmth and a sweetness to many dishes and drinks. It turns out, however, that they actually have some pretty significant health benefits. This is your ultimate guide to cloves: Their health benefits, uses, how they work, potential side effects, and how easy it is for you to incorporate them into your daily routine.

If you’ve ever looked at whole cloves and thought that they resemble flower buds, then you were right: They are the flower buds of the clove tree, scientifically known as Syzygium aromaticum. The clove tree is an evergreen plant native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, but it is now cultivated in tropical regions around the world. They grow best in tropical climates with rich, well-drained soil and regular rainfall. The tree can grow to a maximum height of 30 feet and produce fragrant, crimson flower buds that are harvested before they bloom. Those little buds are then dried in the sun, and when they turn the deep reddish-brown color that you are probably used to. This process can take anywhere from several days to weeks, depending on the method used. Cloves are always harvested by hand to ensure the best quality possible.