From The Grimoire
Clove Folklore and History: Why Witches Love Cloves
Explore clove folklore and history, from the Spice Islands and ancient trade to protection, prosperity, kitchen witchcraft and modern magical use.
Table of Contents
Cloves look deeply unimpressive if we’re being honest.
Tiny brown spiky things that usually live in the back of somebody’s spice cupboard next to cinnamon, smelling vaguely like Christmas and old cupboards.
They look like something your nan’s had in the spice cupboard since the Miners’ Strike.
And yet somehow, these weird little dried flower buds became one of the most valuable substances on Earth.
Not exaggerating, either. At one point people were sailing across oceans, starting wars, hoarding fortunes, and generally losing their minds over cloves.
Which honestly tells you everything you need to know about their magical reputation.
Because witches have always loved cloves.
Not because they’re trendy.
Not because they photograph nicely beside crystals on Instagram.
But because cloves have a long, messy, fascinating history of protection, warmth, healing, prosperity, and spiritual power.
And unlike a lot of modern “witchcraft aesthetics,” this one’s rooted in actual centuries of use.
What Actually Are Cloves?
Cloves come from the tree Syzygium aromaticum, native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, once known as the Spice Islands.
And these things were serious business.
For centuries, cloves were worth an absolute fortune. Entire trade routes were built around them. Colonial powers fought over them. Merchants guarded them like treasure.
At various points in history, cloves were literally worth more than gold by weight.
Imagine explaining to somebody in Aldi that people once crossed oceans and committed international crimes over the contents of the seasonal baking aisle.
Human beings are weird.
Cloves in Ancient Traditions
One of the oldest recorded uses of cloves comes from ancient China.
Courtiers in the Han Dynasty were said to chew cloves before speaking to the emperor so their breath smelled pleasant.
Which sounds polite on the surface.
But spiritually? There’s something much deeper there too:
purification before entering sacred space.
That idea appears again and again throughout magical history.
Cloves became associated with:
- cleansing
- preparation
- protection
- status
- spiritual power
- transformation
Across Arabia, India, Europe, and parts of Africa, cloves appeared in medicine, ritual, incense, oils, and folk protection practices.
And honestly, when an ingredient survives that many cultures and that many centuries, witches tend to pay attention.
Why Witches Became Obsessed With Cloves
Because cloves do exactly what good folk magic ingredients should do.
They’re warming.
Protective.
Grounding.
Strong without being flashy.
Cloves have always carried this energy of:
“Absolutely not. You can fuck off.”
Which is surprisingly useful spiritually.
Historically, cloves were used to:
- ward off illness
- protect the home
- remove negativity
- strengthen courage
- attract prosperity
- support love and attraction magic
And because they were rare and expensive for much of history, they also became associated with wealth and abundance.
If you owned cloves centuries ago, you were doing alright financially.
Or you’d robbed a spice merchant.
One or the other.
Medieval Clove Magic Was Wild
During plague outbreaks in Europe, people carried pomanders filled with cloves and herbs to protect themselves from illness and “bad air.”
Now, medically speaking, they didn’t fully understand germs yet.
But spiritually? The instinct makes perfect sense.
Cloves smell strong.
Sharp.
Purifying.
They cut through heaviness.
Modern laboratory research has investigated antimicrobial activity in clove compounds, but that does not mean historical pomanders could prevent plague. The practice is better understood in the context of older ideas about illness, scent and protection.
Cloves in Protection Magic
This is probably the biggest reason witches still work with cloves today.
Protection magic with cloves feels solid. Grounded. Firm.
Not aggressive.
Not dramatic.
Just deeply steady.
They’re brilliant for:
- protection sachets
- cleansing blends
- doorway charms
- banishing rituals
- spiritual boundaries
- confidence work
Honestly, cloves have strong:
“Not today, Satan”
energy.
Except in a very Northern way.
More:
“Absolutely not. I’ve had enough this week.”
Cloves and Love Magic
Now here’s where people get confused.
Cloves ARE used in love magic.
But traditionally, they’re not really fluffy fairytale romance herbs.
They’re more:
- warmth
- attraction
- confidence
- passion
- emotional courage
- loyalty
Less:
“Make my ex text me.”
More:
“Help me stop dating emotionally unavailable disasters.”
Which, frankly, is probably more useful.
Cloves work beautifully in self-love and confidence magic because they strengthen the self first.
That’s proper witchcraft, honestly.
Not control.
Not obsession.
Strength.
Kitchen Witchcraft & The Magic of Ordinary Things
One of the reasons I love cloves so much is that they fit naturally into real life.
You don’t need elaborate rituals in a candlelit forest wearing seventeen layers of dramatic linen.
You can literally stir cloves into tea, simmer them on the hob, add them to baking, or tuck them into charm bags while the washing machine’s going and somebody’s asking where their PE kit is.
That’s real witchcraft too.
Actually, I’d argue it’s more real than half the aesthetic nonsense online these days.
Folk magic has always lived in kitchens.
In gardens.
In ordinary homes.
In practical little acts repeated over time.
And cloves sit right at the heart of that tradition.
Why Cloves Still Matter Today
I think modern witches still love cloves because they bring warmth during hard times.
And bloody hell, people need that.
They remind us:
- protection can be simple
- magic can be practical
- ordinary objects can hold power
- comfort and strength can exist together
Also they make the house smell incredible, which frankly counts as emotional support during winter.
Final Thoughts
Cloves have travelled through centuries of trade, folklore, medicine, ritual, survival, and everyday life.
They’ve been carried by emperors, healers, merchants, grandmothers, cooks, and witches alike.
And despite all the trends that come and go in modern spirituality, cloves remain exactly what they’ve always been:
small, powerful, practical, and deeply woven into the magic of ordinary life.
Which feels very Lancashire somehow.
No fuss.
No gatekeeping.
No dramatic declarations under a blood moon.
Just:
“Here. Have a spice. It helps.”
And honestly?
That’s my favourite kind of magic.
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