making your own
Clove Rum Liqueur
Ingredients:
1 Cup Sugar
2 1/2 Cups Water, Divided
2 Tbsp Whole Cloves
1 Tbsp Dried Hibiscus Flowers
1/2 Cup Heavy (High Congener) Aged Rum
1 1/4 Cup Light (Low Congener) White Rum
6 Drops of Caramel Coloring (optional)
Directions:
Combine 1 1/2 cups of water, sugar, cloves and the hibiscus flowers in a medium saucepan, stirring frequently for 10 minutes.Remove from the heat and allow it to cool.
Strain the solids for a milder liqueur or leave them in for a stronger-flavored version.
Transfer to a clean, 1 Liter bottle or glass container, add the rums and add enough of the remaining water to reach the 1-liter mark.
Allow the blend to rest in a cool, dark place for 1 month, after which you may decant or filter into its final serving container.
Clove
Did you know that cloves ...
Used often in Ayurvedic medicine, cloves are anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiseptic and analgesic. They’re packed with antioxidants and are good sources of minerals (especially manganese), omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and vitamins. Here are a couple of uses for cloves, culled from an Ayurvedic tradition (from MindBodyGree.com):
Temporarily treat a toothache. You can temporarily alleviate the pain by dabbing a little clove oil on a cotton ball and placing it on the sore tooth or on your gums. An added benefit is that it will also pull out any infection.
Relieve upper respiratory infections. Ayurveda suggests making a tea to lessen, or prevent, colds and flu. It is also used as an expectorant, making it easier to cough up phlegm. Cloves are a natural painkiller and also attack germs, so they’ll help you get rid of that sore throat.
Reduce inflammation. Use clove oil to massage sore muscles; some also use it for arthritis and rheumatism.
Treat scrapes and bruises. Cloves are pretty strong and can sting, so the best bet is to probably make a poultice with a little olive oil.
Improve digestion. Cloves help relax the smooth lining of the GI tract, so they help alleviate vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal gas and stomach aches. Just be careful; since they’re strong, they can also irritate the stomach.