CLOVES Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum. The plant is indigenous to North Maluku Islands of Indonesia. It is also grown in Zanzibar, Madagascar, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India. The tree prefers well drained rich soil with sufficient soil moisture throughout the year. High atmospheric temperature (25 to 35 degree C) with heavy sun light, good and well-distributed rainfall (above 150 cm) and high humidity (above 70%) are preferred. USES The use of clove in whole or ground form is mainly for culinary purposes and as a flavouring agent in food industry. Its flavour blends well with both sweet and savory dishes. It is highly valued in medicine as carminative, aromatic and stimulant. The antiseptic and antibiotic properties of clove oil are used in medicine especially in dentistry, oral and pharyngeal treatments. It has wider applications in preparations of toothpaste and mouthwashes, soaps and perfumes. It is also reported to help diabetics in sugar assimilations. Indian cloves are premium quality--hand-picked when still green, plump, whole and rich in volatile oils. Indonesian Cloves Lalpari are reddish-brown with 6%-12% moisture, and 1% admixture and few headless and baby cloves. Madagascar Clean Quality Cloves are brown-reddish with less than 11% moisture and 0.5% admixture and few headless and baby cloves.
