Syzygium aromaticum · Family: Myrtaceae · Flower Bud Oleoresin
Clove is the most single-compound spice in common use — its character is overwhelmingly eugenol. What distinguishes materials is the part: bud, stem and leaf all yield eugenol but at different levels and with different supporting profiles. We supply bud-derived oleoresin, declared as such, with eugenol by GC per batch.
One compound does most of the work, and the part decides how much
Clove oleoresin is the solvent-extracted concentrate of Syzygium aromaticum flower bud. Among culinary spices it is unusually simple in character: eugenol dominates the profile so completely that clove's flavour, aroma and much of its functional interest all trace back to a single compound.
That simplicity moves the interesting question elsewhere — to the part. Clove bud, stem and leaf all yield eugenol-rich material, but at different concentrations and with different supporting constituents. Bud is the premium and classical material with the roundest profile; stem and leaf are cheaper and coarser. Since eugenol assay alone will not always separate them cleanly, the part declaration carries real weight.
It is also worth being straightforward about origin. India grows clove in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but world production is dominated by Indonesia, Madagascar, Tanzania and Sri Lanka. Much Indian clove oleoresin is extracted here from imported bud — India's strength on this product is the extraction industry rather than the crop. We state the origin of the raw material rather than implying an Indian-grown claim the trade would not support.
We declare eugenol by GC, volatile oil content, the part, and the solvent used with its residual level.
A profile dominated by one compound
The dominant constituent and the source of clove's characteristic warm, sweet, medicinal-spicy character. Typically the overwhelming majority of the volatile fraction.
The second significant constituent, contributing sweetness and roundness — more prominent in bud material than in stem or leaf, which is part of why bud is the premium part.
A sesquiterpene contributing woody depth and part of the profile used to characterise the material.
Collectively the aroma, and unusually high in clove relative to most spices. Declared per batch.
The extracted non-volatile fraction, contributing body and the darker colour of an oleoresin against the distilled oil.
Bud, stem and leaf all yield eugenol-rich material at different levels and with different supporting profiles. The part is declared.
Why formulators specify a part-declared clove oleoresin
The compound that essentially is clove, assayed per batch rather than assumed from the extraction ratio.
Stem and leaf yield cheaper, coarser eugenol-rich material. The part declaration is what separates them.
World clove production is dominated by Indonesia, Madagascar and Tanzania. We state raw-material origin rather than implying Indian cultivation.
Reported per batch, as on any aroma-led spice where the volatile fraction is the commercial value.
Solvent named and tested every batch — the defining control on any solvent-extracted product.
Disperses uniformly where ground bud separates, and delivers far more aroma per kilo.
These are functional and physico-chemical properties of the actives; SV Botanica does not make medical or therapeutic claims for this ingredient.
Eugenol grades and dispersible forms
| Grade | Standardisation | Form | Best For | Solubility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clove Bud Oleoresin (Standard) Standard | Eugenol by GC; volatile oil declared; bud only | Dark brown viscous liquid | Bakery, confectionery, savoury, beverages | Oil-soluble |
| Clove Bud Oleoresin (High Eugenol) Concentrated | Elevated eugenol; volatile oil declared | Dark brown viscous liquid | Low-inclusion dosing, flavour-led applications | Oil-soluble |
| Clove Oleoresin Dispersible Dispersible | Plated or emulsified; eugenol declared | Free-flowing powder | Dry seasoning blends, bakery premixes | Dispersible |
| Clove Bud Essential Oil Quoted separately | Distilled volatile fraction only | Pale yellow to amber mobile liquid | Flavour, fragrance, oral care | Oil-soluble |
| Cloves (Whole / Ground) Quoted separately | Whole spice — not an extract | Dark brown bud or powder | Traditional and visible-spice applications | — |
The part matters more than the grade on clove. Bud, stem and leaf all give eugenol-rich material, and a eugenol assay alone will not always distinguish them — so we declare bud only, with stem and leaf excluded. Bud carries more eugenyl acetate and a rounder profile, which is what buyers paying for clove bud are actually paying for. Origin is stated rather than implied: world clove production is concentrated in Indonesia, Madagascar, Tanzania and Sri Lanka, with India a smaller grower but a significant extraction base. Where a grade is standardised with a carrier, the carrier and inclusion level are named.
Full product specification for Clove Bud Oleoresin, standard grade. Values are specification limits, not batch results; a batch-specific CoA is issued per shipment.
| Parameter | Specification / Limit | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical Source | Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry | — |
| Plant Family | Myrtaceae | — |
| Part Used | Dried flower bud | — |
| Country of Origin | India | — |
| Appearance | Viscous liquid | Organoleptic |
| Colour | Dark brown* | Organoleptic |
| Odour & Taste | Characteristic of clove, warm and sweet-spicy | Organoleptic |
| Eugenol | Declared per batch | By GC |
| Eugenyl Acetate | Reported per batch | By GC |
| Volatile Oil (% v/w) | Declared per batch | Distillation |
| Part Used | Bud only — stem and leaf excluded | Declaration |
| Raw Material Origin | Stated per batch | Declaration |
| Solubility | Oil-soluble; dispersible grade available | — |
| Carrier / Diluent | Declared with inclusion level (standardised grades) | Declaration |
| Moisture (% w/w) | NMT 1.0 | Karl Fischer |
| Residual Solvent | Solvent named; within permitted limits — every batch | By GC |
| Lead (ppm) | NMT 1.0 | ICP-MS |
| Arsenic (ppm) | NMT 1.0 | ICP-MS |
| Cadmium (ppm) | NMT 0.3 | ICP-MS |
| Mercury (ppm) | NMT 0.1 | ICP-MS |
| Pesticide Residues | Complies (EU MRL, on request) | GC-MS / LC-MS/MS |
| Ethylene Oxide (ETO) | Not treated — declaration provided | LC-MS/MS (on request) |
| Aflatoxins B1 / Total (ppb) | NMT 2 / NMT 4 | HPLC-FLD |
| Ochratoxin A (ppb) | NMT 10 | HPLC-FLD |
| Total Plate Count (cfu/g) | NMT 10,000 | USP <2021> |
| Yeast & Moulds (cfu/g) | NMT 100 | USP <2021> |
| Escherichia coli | Absent | USP <2022> |
| Salmonella sp. | Absent | USP <2022> |
| HS Code | 3301.90 | — |
| Kosher / Halal | Certified (on request) | Certification |
| Shelf Life | 24 months from date of manufacture, in original packed condition | — |
| Storage | Cool, dark place below 25°C, tightly closed, protected from light | — |
*Colour varies with grade and concentration; clove oleoresin darkens with age as eugenol oxidises. The part declaration is the most useful line on this certificate. Clove bud, stem and leaf all yield eugenol-rich material, and because eugenol dominates all three profiles, an assay figure alone does not reliably separate them — bud is distinguished more by its eugenyl acetate content and rounder supporting profile than by eugenol itself. We declare bud only, with stem and leaf excluded, and report eugenyl acetate alongside eugenol. Raw material origin is stated rather than implied: India grows clove in Kerala and Tamil Nadu but world production is dominated by Indonesia, Madagascar, Tanzania and Sri Lanka, and much Indian oleoresin is extracted from imported bud. We would rather state that plainly than let an India-origin assumption stand. Residual solvent is named and tested by GC every batch.
From bud to declared oleoresin — part-controlled, profiled, documented
Raw Material: Produced from Syzygium aromaticum flower bud, with origin recorded at intake and stated on the certificate. Because bud, stem and leaf all yield eugenol-rich material at different value points, part integrity is established at the raw-material stage rather than inferred from an assay that would not reliably separate them.
Extraction & Testing: Extraction is carried out at certified facilities in India, which is a significant global base for spice oleoresin extraction even where the crop itself is grown elsewhere. Each batch is assayed for eugenol by GC with eugenyl acetate reported, and volatile oil by distillation. Residual solvent is tested by GC against the named solvent. Contaminant testing covers moisture, heavy metals by ICP-MS, aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, pesticide residue screening and a full microbiological panel.
Documentation: Every shipment ships against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis stating the marker assay, volatile oil where applicable, the solvent used and its residual level, and carrier with inclusion level where applicable, together with an MSDS. Halal, Kosher and Organic certification are available — see our guides on EU pesticide MRL compliance and EU import requirements.
What backs every batch of Clove Oleoresin oleoresin
Key information for global product registration and labelling
We would rather be straightforward about this than let a general "Made in India" impression carry a product it should not. India grows clove in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but world clove production is dominated by Indonesia, Madagascar, Tanzania and Sri Lanka, and a substantial share of Indian clove oleoresin is extracted here from imported bud. India's genuine strength on this ingredient is its extraction industry — among the largest and most capable in the world for spice oleoresins — rather than the crop. We state raw-material origin on the certificate. For buyers this matters in two ways: preferential-origin and certificate-of-origin documentation follow the actual processing and sourcing route, and any marketing that implies Indian-grown clove would not be supportable.
Because eugenol dominates clove bud, stem and leaf alike, an assay figure does not by itself establish which part was used. Bud is the premium and classical material, distinguished more by its eugenyl acetate content and rounder supporting profile than by eugenol level. Buyers paying a bud price should require the part on the certificate and, where it matters, the eugenyl acetate figure alongside eugenol. We declare both.
Every oleoresin is a solvent-extracted product, which makes residual solvent its defining quality control rather than an afterthought. Permitted extraction solvents and their maximum residues are set by the destination market's rules and differ by solvent class. We name the solvent used on every certificate and test each batch by GC. Buyers should confirm the solvent is permitted for their market and application — a supplier who will not name it has made that check impossible. Where a specific solvent system is required, it can be specified at order.
Supplied from India by SV Botanica — FSSAI Central Licence holder, Spices Board and APEDA registered exporter. Extraction is carried out in India; raw-material origin is stated per batch. Shipped against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with export documentation available on request. This product is supplied as a food ingredient and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Guides on clove sourcing, eugenol standardisation and authenticity
How clove's dominant compound is assayed and what the figure does and does not tell you.
Buyer's GuideParts, grades and what to require on the certificate.
QualityPart substitution on clove and the controls that detect it.
SourcingWhere clove actually comes from and how the trade routes work.
RegulatoryResidue limits and screening for India-origin ingredients.
RegulatoryDocumentation, controls and border expectations for Indian botanicals.
Other warm spices and oleoresins from our range
Technical and commercial questions answered by our ingredients team
Bud-derived oleoresin with eugenol by GC, eugenyl acetate and volatile oil declared, and raw-material origin stated. Samples for qualified buyers.
Supplied as a bulk ingredient for further manufacture. Buyers are responsible for compliance with the regulations of their destination market. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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