Histamine Tracker
Cloves
Cloves appear on many histamine intolerance lists, and some sensitive people report reactions — though the exact mechanism isn't firmly established.
Like cinnamon, cloves don't contain a lot of histamine themselves, but they're flagged as a moderate concern on several intolerance lists.
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Reported sensitivity — many people with histamine intolerance report reacting to cloves, though whether this is due to histamine liberation or another compound isn't clearly established in the research
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Concentration counts — cloves have a very strong, concentrated flavor, so they tend to be used sparingly, which may naturally limit exposure compared to milder spices used in larger quantities
If cloves seem to be a trigger for you, experimenting with reducing the amount in recipes is a reasonable first step.
Track your reactions to cloves in Histamine Tracker. Log meals and symptoms to spot the patterns that matter for your body.
For educational purposes only. Not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for personal guidance.
References
- SIGHI Food Compatibility List — SIGHI (2026)
- Histamine and histamine intolerance — Maintz & Novak (2007)
- Histamine Intolerance: The Current State of the Art — Comas-Basté et al. (2020)
- Low-Histamine Diets: Is the Exclusion of Foods Justified by Their Histamine Content? — Sánchez-Pérez et al. (2021)
- Histamine Intolerance: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Beyond — Jochum (2024)
- Guideline on management of suspected adverse reactions to ingested histamine — Reese et al. (2021)