Question

Which part of the plant Eugenia aromatica do we use (in the form of cloves) as an aromatic spice?
A. Dried fruit
B. Dried and roasted seed
C. Unopened dried flower bud
D. Dried leaf

Answer 1

Hint: The synonym for Eugenia aromatica is Syzygium aromaticum and the common name of this plant is clove. The structure of the clove is like a small, reddish-brown spike (1 cm in length) with a bulb-shaped top. It has been used as an aromatic spice because of its strong, pungent flavor and aroma.

Complete answer:
Option (A) is incorrect. Dried fruit is the fruit from which the water content has been extracted either by sun drying or by using dehydrators. These fruits include raisins, dates, figs, apricots.
Option (B) is incorrect. Dried and roasted seed include those nuts and seeds whose aroma and flavor would be lacking if they are not roasted after drying. So, many people prefer roasting the seeds after drying to gain favor from the seeds.
Option (C) is correct. Unopened dried flower buds are mostly used as spices and one of the best examples of these spices includes cloves (Eugenia aromatica). The cloves are harvested mainly for the unopened flower buds borne in clusters that are then dried to create whole clove buds that are used as an aromatic spice.
Option (D) is incorrect. The dried leaf of the plant Eugenia aromatica is not used as an aromatic spice because the aromatic spice of this plant is in the form of a clove that has a structure resembling that of dried flower bud and not the leaf.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: Clove has certain medicinal benefits apart from providing aromatic smell and flavor to the food. It can be applied directly to the gums for toothache, for pain control during dental work, for curing upset stomach, etc. By looking at the structure of the clove, it can be depicted that it is an unopened flower bud of the plant Eugenia aromatica.