Easy Clove Tea Recipe

This clove tea recipe turns a few whole cloves and hot water into a warm, spicy, caffeine-free cup in about 10 minutes. You will see clove tea described online as good for almost everything, but plainly put, it is a comforting spice drink, not a treatment. I make it two ways, a quick mug steep and a stronger stovetop simmer. If you take a blood thinner or blood sugar medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have surgery coming up, check with your doctor before drinking it regularly.

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What Is Clove Tea?

Clove tea is a simple herbal infusion, basically tea from whole cloves, made by steeping cloves in hot water (or gently simmering them) and then straining. The flavor is intense, spicy, and slightly sweet, like chai spices and mulled spices had a minimalist moment and decided to become a warm spice tea.

Ingredients for Clove Tea

You only need:

• Whole cloves (amazon link)
• Water

Optional (for flavor, not required):

• Fresh ginger slices
• Cinnamon stick
• Lemon slice or lemon juice
• Honey or maple syrup

How to Make Clove Tea With Whole Cloves

You can make it two ways: a quick mug steep for a lighter cup, or a stovetop simmer for a bolder brew. Any kettle or small saucepan works, plus a strainer. A small Zulay fine mesh tea strainer catches every clove, and a glass electric kettle gets the water hot fast. The printable version is in the recipe card below.

Mug Steep Method (Fast and Gentle)

1. Bring water to a boil, then let it sit 30 to 60 seconds so it’s hot but not aggressively bubbling.
2. Add cloves to a mug.
3. Pour hot water over the cloves and steep.
4. Strain (or remove cloves with a spoon) and enjoy.

Stovetop Simmer Method

1. Add water and cloves to a small pot.
2. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer.
3. Turn off heat, cover, and let it sit briefly.
4. Strain and serve.

Iced Clove Tea

1. Make a stronger batch using the simmer method.
2. Cool, then refrigerate.
3. Serve over ice with lemon.

How Many Cloves per Cup of Tea?

If you’ve ever wondered how many cloves per cup of tea, use this easy guide for an 8 to 12 oz mug:

• Mild: 3 to 4 cloves
• Medium: 5 to 6 cloves
• Strong: 7 to 8 cloves (for bold and intense clove tea)

Tip: Cloves are powerful. If your cup tastes bitter or overly spicy-hot, reduce the cloves next time or shorten the steep.

I like to lightly crush the cloves before steeping, it pulls out more of their warm aroma.

How Long to Steep Cloves in Tea

A common question is how long to steep cloves in tea and how to fix bitterness. Here’s what works well:

• Steep time: 5 to 10 minutes if you make it using mug method
• Simmer time: If you are making clove tea on stovetop simmer for 5 to 8 minutes, then rest 2 to 5 minutes

Fix a bitter cup: If your clove tea becomes bitter, strain it sooner, add a squeeze of lemon, or stir in a little honey. If you used ground cloves, bitterness can show up faster and the texture can be gritty, strain through a fine mesh.

Clove Tea Variations

Clove and Ginger Tea

This combo is popular for a reason. It tastes bright, spicy, and balanced.

• Add 2 to 3 ginger slices
• Add 1 small cinnamon stick
• Finish with lemon (slice or juice) after straining

If you like the cinnamon in this one, try my cinnamon tea. For a ginger-forward cup without the cloves, my ginger water recipe takes about 15 minutes.

Creamy Clove Tea

If you like a softer finish, add a splash of milk or a non-dairy creamer after straining. For a creamy, caffeine-free cup at night, my golden milk recipe is the one I’d pick.

Want Caffeine? Add Tea

Clove tea is naturally caffeine-free, but you can add a black tea bag or green tea bag after simmering (steep the tea bag for 2 to 3 minutes). Now you’ve got a spiced, caffeinated cup. For a creamy chai version, stir in a spoonful of my homemade chai latte powder instead.

What Clove Tea Can and Cannot Do

Cloves contain a plant compound called eugenol, and most of what you read about clove benefits comes from studies of eugenol or concentrated clove extracts, not a cup of tea. The Cleveland Clinic puts it plainly: small food amounts of cloves are not harmful, but there is not enough scientific evidence to use them for medicinal purposes. So I treat clove tea as a warm, caffeine-free spice drink. It does not treat arthritis, infections or any other condition, and it is not a replacement for medication.

In everyday, practical terms, The clove tea is most commonly used as:

• A comforting warm drink during cold weather
• A soothing after-meal sip when you feel heavy or bloated
• A strongly aromatic beverage that can feel clearing for the senses

Friendly reminder: Clove tea can be a great routine drink, but it’s not a cure-all. If you’re using it for a specific health concern, it’s smart to check with your clinician.

I reach for a warm cup after a heavy meal, the warmth and gentle spice just feel soothing.

For occasional constipation, another gentle kitchen remedy people try is warm prune juice and butter.

Who Should Be Careful With Clove Tea

Cloves are potent, and clove tea can cause side effects if you make it very strong or drink a lot of it. Be cautious if you:

• Take a blood thinner or have a bleeding disorder. Eugenol, the main compound in cloves, can affect blood clotting.
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding. Food amounts are usually fine; there is no safety data on concentrated clove products.
• Have diabetes or take blood sugar medication. Eugenol may lower blood sugar, so monitor it and talk with your clinician.
• Have surgery scheduled. Ask your care team what to avoid beforehand.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical or nutritional advice. The recipes and tips here are not a treatment for any condition, and results vary. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before changing your diet, especially if you have a health condition, are pregnant, or take medication.

Clove Tea vs Clove Water

People sometimes treat clove tea vs clove water like they’re identical, but in everyday use they often mean different things.

• This tea is typically hot, steeped or simmered, then strained and sipped fresh.
• Clove water often refers to cloves soaked overnight, sometimes consumed in larger amounts, sometimes promoted with big wellness claims.

How to Store Clove Tea

• Store cooled tea in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Reheat gently or serve over ice.
• If the flavor gets too intense as it sits, dilute with water.

Looking for another cup to keep in the fridge? Browse all my tea recipes, hot and iced.

Common Questions

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