Cloves

Cloves remind me of winter baking and mulled wine, but they are also commonly used in Indian cuisine, both savoury and sweet. You only need a few, so as to not overpower the whole dish. They look like little brown nails, which is where their name derives from: the word clou in French means nail. The clove is a deep pink flower, which is picked just before it opens and then dried, darkening its appearance. Medicinally, they are said to be good for toothache.