Category: Health

Evidence-aware health articles, practical wellbeing tips and clearly explained safety guidance.

Clove Water Benefits: What the Evidence Really Says

Last updated 13 September 2026.

Clove water is one of those internet drinks that sounds almost too efficient: add a spice to water, wait a few minutes, and apparently everything from digestion to blood sugar is transformed.

The reality is more interesting—and far less dramatic. Cloves contain aromatic plant compounds, especially eugenol, but research on concentrated clove extracts or essential oil cannot automatically be applied to a homemade cup of clove water.

The quick answer

Clove water can be an aromatic, low-sugar drink. Laboratory studies show interesting antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in cloves, while a very small human pilot study found changes in blood glucose after a standardised clove extract. That is not proof that ordinary clove tea prevents disease, balances blood sugar, strengthens bones or treats cancer.

What is clove water?

Clove water is simply water infused with whole dried cloves. It is also called clove tea, although some recipes boil the spice while others leave it to steep overnight.

Cloves are the dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum. Their characteristic scent and flavour come largely from eugenol, a naturally occurring compound also used as a flavouring ingredient.

A glass of clove-infused water with whole cloves on a wooden table
Clove water is a mild spice infusion—not a medicine or a substitute for treatment.

Possible clove water benefits: what does research show?

1. Cloves contain antioxidant compounds

Cloves contain eugenol and other plant compounds that show antioxidant activity in laboratory testing. Antioxidants help researchers study oxidative processes, but a high laboratory antioxidant value does not prove that drinking clove water produces a measurable health benefit in people.

2. It may make plain water more appealing

If you enjoy the warm, spicy taste, a cup of clove water can be a pleasant alternative to sugary drinks. The most certain benefit is therefore very ordinary: it is another way to drink water. The cloves do not make the water uniquely hydrating.

3. Blood-sugar claims are based on limited evidence

A 2019 open-label pilot study followed only 13 people who took 250 milligrams of a standardised, water-soluble clove extract each day for 30 days. Researchers reported reductions in some blood-glucose measurements, but the study was tiny, had no placebo group and tested a specific extract—not homemade clove water.

That makes the result interesting for future research, but not strong enough to recommend clove water as a diabetes treatment. Never replace prescribed medicine or medical advice with a spice drink.

4. Antimicrobial results mostly come from concentrated products

Clove oil and concentrated extracts can inhibit microorganisms in laboratory experiments. A weak tea is chemically very different. Drinking it has not been shown to disinfect the body, prevent food poisoning or replace brushing, dental care or treatment for an infection.

5. Digestion claims remain largely traditional

Cloves have a long history in food and traditional practices, and some people simply find a warm drink soothing after a meal. However, authoritative reviews note that convincing clinical evidence is lacking for treating nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and similar complaints with clove extracts.

What clove water has not been proven to do

  • It has not been proven to prevent or treat cancer.
  • It has not been proven to strengthen human bones.
  • It does not “detox” the liver or the body.
  • It is not a documented immune-system booster.
  • It is not a replacement for diabetes medicine, dental treatment or professional healthcare.

Some of these claims originate from cell or animal studies using doses and preparations that bear little resemblance to a cup made with a few whole cloves.

How to make a mild cup of clove water

  1. Bring 250 millilitres of water to the boil.
  2. Add four or five whole cloves. You can lightly crush them for a stronger flavour.
  3. Simmer gently for about five minutes.
  4. Turn off the heat and leave the drink to steep for another five minutes.
  5. Strain it and taste before adding anything else.

If you prefer it cold, let it cool and add ice. A little lemon can make it fresher. Honey is still added sugar, so use it for taste rather than turning a simple drink into a dessert wearing a health halo.

Can you drink clove water every day?

There is no well-established, evidence-based daily dose for homemade clove water. An occasional culinary-strength cup is very different from swallowing clove essential oil or taking a concentrated supplement.

If you want to drink it regularly, keep the recipe mild and pay attention to irritation, nausea or other symptoms. More cloves do not automatically mean more benefit.

Important safety advice

Do not drink clove essential oil. It is highly concentrated. The US National Library of Medicine describes severe poisoning after large accidental doses, including low blood sugar, seizures and liver injury—particularly in children.

  • Keep clove oil away from children.
  • Stop using clove products if they cause burning, irritation or an allergic reaction.
  • Ask a doctor or pharmacist before regular use if you take blood-thinning or diabetes medicine, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have liver disease, or are preparing for surgery.
  • Seek urgent medical help if anyone swallows a significant amount of clove oil.

Frequently asked questions

Does clove water help with weight loss?

There is no good clinical evidence that clove water causes meaningful weight loss. It may indirectly reduce calories if it replaces a sugary drink, but that is a substitution effect rather than a special fat-burning property.

Does clove water balance blood sugar?

One small pilot study tested a standardised clove extract, not tea. The evidence is not sufficient for treatment advice. People with diabetes should monitor their condition and follow guidance from their healthcare team.

Is clove water the same as clove oil?

No. Clove water is a weak infusion made with whole spice. Clove oil is a concentrated essential oil and can be dangerous if swallowed.

How many cloves should I use?

For a mild drink, start with four or five whole cloves in 250 millilitres of water. There is no proven therapeutic dose, so use it as a food or drink rather than as medicine.

The honest conclusion

Clove water can be a tasty, inexpensive spice infusion. Cloves contain interesting compounds, but the internet has raced far ahead of the human evidence. Enjoy the drink if you like it—just do not expect five life-changing results in a month.

For more of my personal notes about food, health and lifestyle, visit MarkBarner.com/health. Personal experience is not a promise that other people will get the same result.

Sources

This article provides general information and is not medical advice.