Cloves are the immature unopened flower buds of a tropical tree. When fresh, they are pink, but turn to a brown color when dried. Cloves have a strong, sweet, aromatic taste.Clove are the unopened flower bud of a tree that grows in many of the warmer regions of the world such as Madagascar, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sumatra, and Brazil. Cloves can be purchased both whole and ground. Cloves have a most pleasant aroma, but they are so strong that a tiny bit will be sufficient to flavor a great deal of prepared food. Be careful!