How to Make Clove Tea: Simple Whole-Clove Infusion with Variations

By Aquarium Guides Editorial Team · Updated November 12, 2026

Last Updated: November 12, 2026

Clove tea is a warm, aromatic infusion made by steeping whole cloves in hot water. Cloves are the dried flower buds of an evergreen tree, and they carry a strong, sweet, slightly peppery flavor, so a little goes a long way. A cup made with too many cloves tastes sharp and almost numbing, while a well-measured one is fragrant and comforting, similar to the smell of baked apples and holiday spice.

This guide covers the basic method, how many cloves to use, a few ways to blend it with other ingredients, and how to make a batch ahead of time. It takes about 10 minutes.

Ingredients

Basic clove tea (1 large mug)

• 6 to 8 whole cloves
• 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) water
• 1 to 2 teaspoons honey or sugar, to taste
• 1 slice of lemon or orange, optional

Spiced clove tea (2 cups)

• 10 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 thin slices of fresh ginger
• 3 cups (720 ml) water
• 1 black tea bag, optional
• Honey and milk, to taste

Instructions: Basic Clove Tea

1. Measure the cloves. Use 6 to 8 whole cloves for one large mug. Whole cloves are better than ground; ground cloves make the tea cloudy and gritty and are easy to overdo.
2. Lightly crush, if desired. Pressing the cloves with the flat side of a knife releases more oils. Skip this step for a milder cup.
3. Boil the water. Bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan.
4. Simmer. Add the cloves, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Simmering extracts more flavor than steeping alone.
5. Steep. Turn off the heat and let the cloves stand for another 5 minutes, covered. Taste it. For a stronger cup, steep a few minutes longer.
6. Strain. Pour through a fine strainer into a mug and discard the cloves.
7. Sweeten and serve. Stir in honey or sugar, and add citrus if you like.

Instructions: Spiced Clove Tea

1. Add the cloves, cinnamon stick, and ginger slices to a saucepan with 3 cups of water.
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer for 10 minutes, covered.
3. If using black tea, remove the pot from the heat, add the tea bag, and steep for 3 minutes.
4. Strain into two mugs. Add honey, and milk if you like a chai-like version.

How Many Cloves?

Cloves are potent. If you are new to the flavor, start at the mild level, and consider adding extra cloves only after tasting.

Tips

• Use fresh cloves. Old cloves lose their aroma. A good whole clove has a plump bud head and smells strongly when you rub it.
• Cover the pot. Aromatic oils evaporate with the steam. A lid holds them in the liquid.
• Do not oversteep. Very long steeping can make the tea harsh. Taste as you go.
• Balance with sweetness and acid. Honey and lemon round out the sharp edges of clove.
• Combine with other spices. Cloves pair well with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and star anise, which soften their punch.
• Strain well. Whole cloves are small and hard, so strain carefully before drinking.
• Use a small saucepan. A narrow pot keeps the cloves submerged.

Variations

• Clove and cinnamon tea: Simmer 6 cloves with 1 cinnamon stick for 8 minutes.
• Clove orange tea: Add strips of orange peel (no white pith) and a spoonful of honey.
• Clove and ginger tea: Simmer 6 cloves with 4 thin slices of fresh ginger.
• Clove milk tea: Make strong black tea, add 6 cloves, simmer with 1/2 cup milk for 3 minutes, strain, and sweeten.
• Clove apple tea: Simmer cloves with a few slices of apple and a cinnamon stick for a cider-like drink.
• Iced clove tea: Chill the strained tea, serve over ice, and add a squeeze of lime.
• Clove with mint: Steep a few mint leaves in the finished tea for 2 minutes.

Make-Ahead Batch

To make a pitcher, use 24 whole cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks, and 8 cups of water. Bring to a boil, simmer covered for 10 minutes, and steep off the heat for 10 more minutes. Strain, sweeten to taste, and refrigerate. Serve cold with ice or reheat single servings on the stovetop or in the microwave. For a party, keep the tea warm in a slow cooker on the low setting with the strained liquid only, so it does not intensify over time.

Storage

Store cooled, strained clove tea in a covered glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently rather than boiling it again, which can flatten the aroma. Keep dry whole cloves in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place, where they stay aromatic for up to about a year. Ground cloves lose potency faster, usually within several months.

Serving Ideas

Clove tea is a good companion to baked goods with warm spice, such as gingerbread, spice cake, or oatmeal cookies. Serve it in a clear glass mug with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice for a festive look. If you are hosting, a small teapot with a strainer on the spout makes it easy to pour without catching the cloves. For an evening drink with no caffeine, combine it with a spoonful of honey and a squeeze of lemon, or simmer it with a bit of milk for a creamier cup.

When using cloves in other recipes, such as baked apples or ham, save any whole cloves you remove and add them to your next pot of tea instead of discarding them.

Choosing and Buying Cloves

Look for whole cloves that are dark reddish-brown, plump, and still have the small round head intact. The simplest freshness test is smell: fresh cloves have a strong, sweet aroma when pressed between your fingers. Buy small jars rather than large bags unless you cook with them often, and keep them away from the stove, where heat and steam fade the oils.

FAQ

Can I use ground cloves for tea?

You can, but use only a pinch, about 1/8 teaspoon per cup. The tea will be cloudy, and you will need to strain it through a coffee filter to remove sediment.

Can I reuse the cloves?

Whole cloves can be reused once, but the second batch will be noticeably weaker. Simmer them a few minutes longer.

Is clove tea caffeine free?

Plain clove tea made only with cloves and water contains no tea leaves, so it does not contain caffeine from tea. If you add black tea, the drink will contain caffeine.

What does clove tea taste like?

It tastes warm, sweet, and slightly peppery, with a strong spice aroma. Honey and citrus help round it out.

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