Syzygium aromaticum · Family: Myrtaceae · Dried Flower Bud
A clove is a flower bud, and its head carries most of the oil. That makes headless percentage the number that separates a good lot from a padded one — and it is the figure most clove offers leave out. We state it, limit stem content, and supply a eugenol test report per lot.
Why the head of the bud is the whole story
A clove is an unopened flower bud, dried whole. It has two parts: the slender stalk-like body, and the rounded head — the unopened petals and sepals at the top. That structure matters commercially, because the head carries the large majority of the volatile oil.
Which is why the figure that actually distinguishes a good clove lot is the headless percentage. Cloves lose their heads through rough handling, over-drying and long storage, and a lot with a high headless count looks superficially like cloves while carrying substantially less eugenol and aroma. It is the ordinary route by which a consignment gets quietly downgraded, and it is the number most clove offers omit.
Two further quality lines follow. Stem content — the woody stalks separated during processing — adds weight without aroma and should be limited rather than left open. And eugenol, the compound that essentially is clove, should be tested per lot rather than assumed from appearance.
On origin we would rather be straightforward than let a general Indian-supply impression stand: India grows clove in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but Indonesia, Madagascar, Tanzania and Sri Lanka dominate world production. We state raw-material origin per lot.
A profile dominated by one compound
The dominant constituent and the source of clove's warm, sweet, medicinal-spicy character. Tested per lot.
The second significant constituent, contributing sweetness and roundness — more prominent in good bud material than in stem.
A sesquiterpene contributing woody depth to the overall profile.
Unusually high in clove relative to most spices — typically 15–18% in good whole bud, concentrated in the head.
The head carries most of the oil. Headless cloves look like cloves and deliver substantially less — which is why the percentage is the key grading figure.
Woody stalks separated in processing. Far lower in eugenol than bud, and limited by specification.
Why buyers specify cloves on headless percentage
The figure that separates a premium lot from a padded one, since the head carries most of the oil.
The compound that essentially is clove, tested rather than assumed from appearance.
Woody stalks add weight without aroma. Limited by specification rather than left open.
Indonesia, Madagascar and Tanzania dominate world clove production. We state raw-material origin rather than implying otherwise.
Per lot rather than per contract, because that is how border sampling works.
Whole bud for buyers who grind on receipt, or ground to a buyer-specified mesh.
These are functional and physico-chemical properties of the actives; SV Botanica does not make medical or therapeutic claims for this ingredient.
Bud grades, ground and stems
| Grade | Standardisation | Form | Best For | Solubility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Cloves — Grade 1 Premium | Low headless %; stem content minimal; eugenol tested | Dark brown bud with intact head | Premium retail, whole-spice culinary, gifting | Whole bud |
| Whole Cloves — Grade 2 Commercial | Higher headless %; stated per lot | Dark brown bud, mixed head condition | Grinding, food manufacturing, blending | Whole bud |
| Ground Cloves Ground | Milled to buyer-specified mesh; eugenol tested | Dark brown powder | Bakery, seasoning blends, manufacturing | Ground |
| Clove Stems By-product | Woody stalks — far lower eugenol | Thin brown woody stems | Oil distillation, economy applications | Stems |
| Steam Sterilised On request | Microbially reduced; volatile impact assessed | Whole or ground | Where a tight microbiological specification applies | Whole / ground |
Grade on cloves is largely a headless-percentage question. The head of the bud carries most of the volatile oil, so a lot with many headless cloves delivers materially less aroma while still looking like cloves — and that is the ordinary way a consignment gets padded. Grade 1 denotes low headless count and minimal stem; Grade 2 carries more and is priced accordingly, which is entirely legitimate provided the figure is stated. Clove stems are a separate by-product, far lower in eugenol, used mainly for oil distillation — they are not a cheaper clove and should never be blended into bud material undeclared. For extracted forms see clove oleoresin.
Export specification for cloves, whole bud and ground. Values are specification limits and typical grade ranges; 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 unopened flower bud | — |
| Country of Origin | India | — |
| Form | Whole bud or ground | — |
| Colour | Dark brown | Organoleptic |
| Odour & Taste | Characteristic, warm and sweet-spicy | Organoleptic |
| Headless Cloves (%) | Stated per lot — to grade | Manual |
| Eugenol | Test report supplied per lot | By GC |
| Volatile Oil (% v/w) | Typically 15–18 — reported on request | Distillation |
| Stem Content (%) | NMT 5 (NMT 2 on Grade 1) | Manual |
| Raw Material Origin | Stated per lot | Declaration |
| Moisture (% w/w) | NMT 12 | Gravimetric |
| Total Ash (% w/w) | NMT 7 | Gravimetric |
| Extraneous / Foreign Matter (%) | NMT 1.0 (NMT 0.5 on Grade 1) | Manual |
| Mesh (ground) | Buyer-specified | Sieve |
| Pesticide Residues | EU Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 MRL compliant — tested per lot | GC-MS / LC-MS/MS |
| Aflatoxin | Total NMT 10 ppb; B1 NMT 5 ppb — EU compliant | HPLC-FLD |
| Heavy Metals | Lead NMT 3 ppm, Cadmium NMT 0.2 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Microbial | Salmonella absent/25g; TPC NMT 100,000 cfu/g | USP <2021> / <2022> |
| Ethylene Oxide (ETO) | Not treated — declaration provided | LC-MS/MS (on request) |
| Irradiation | Non-irradiated grade available on request | Declaration |
| Organic | USDA NOP / EU Organic available | Certification |
| Kosher / Halal | Certified (on request) | Certification |
| HS Code | 0907.10 (Whole); 0907.90 (Ground) | — |
| Documentation | Phytosanitary Certificate, CoA, MSDS, Allergen Declaration, Non-GMO | — |
| Packaging | Buyer-specified — jute, PP, multi-wall paper or vacuum | — |
| Storage | Cool, dry, well-ventilated; away from direct sunlight and strong odours | — |
Headless percentage is the line that grades this commodity. A clove is an unopened flower bud, and the rounded head at its top — the unopened petals and sepals — carries the large majority of the volatile oil. Cloves lose their heads through rough handling, over-drying and long storage, so a lot with a high headless count looks like cloves and delivers substantially less eugenol. It is the ordinary route by which a consignment is padded, and it is the figure most clove offers omit. We state it per lot. Stem content is limited for the same reason: woody stalks are far lower in eugenol and add weight without aroma. Eugenol is tested per lot rather than inferred from appearance, since it is effectively the whole flavour of the spice. And raw-material origin is stated — India grows clove in Kerala and Tamil Nadu but Indonesia, Madagascar, Tanzania and Sri Lanka dominate world production, and we would rather say so than let an origin assumption stand. Pesticide MRL is tested per lot.
From bud to certified consignment — graded, tested, documented
Sourcing & Grading: Raw-material origin is recorded at intake and stated on the certificate — India grows clove in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, while Indonesia, Madagascar, Tanzania and Sri Lanka dominate world production. Material is graded on headless percentage, stem content and foreign matter, with Grade 1 and Grade 2 separated accordingly.
Testing: Every lot carries a eugenol test report, with volatile oil reported on request. Pesticide residues are tested per lot against EU MRL limits, alongside aflatoxin, heavy metals by ICP-MS and a full microbiological panel. Non-irradiation and non-ETO declarations are standard, with steam sterilisation available where a tight microbiological specification applies.
Documentation: Every shipment is supplied against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with Phytosanitary Certificate, MSDS, allergen and non-GMO declarations. Non-irradiation and non-ETO declarations are standard; organic, Halal and Kosher certification are available on request. See our guides on EU pesticide MRL compliance and EU import requirements.
What backs every batch of Cloves spice
Key information for global product registration and labelling
We would rather be straightforward about this than let a general "supplied from 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 material moving through Indian trade and processing is frequently of those origins. We state raw-material origin per lot. For a buyer this matters in two practical ways: certificate-of-origin and preferential-duty documentation follow the actual sourcing route rather than the shipping point, and any marketing that implies Indian-grown clove would not be supportable. Where Indian-grown material is specifically required it can be sourced, but it should be specified rather than assumed.
Whole spices from India face closer residue scrutiny than most agricultural imports, and pesticide MRL is where consignments are most often stopped. We test per lot rather than per contract against EU Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 limits, because a certificate covering an earlier lot does not help when the current one is sampled at the border. Buyers should also confirm whether their commodity and origin currently sit on any increased-controls listing, since those are revised periodically and determine sampling frequency on arrival. Ethylene oxide remains one of the most common reasons Indian spice consignments are refused in the EU: we supply a non-treatment declaration as standard and can test by LC-MS/MS on request.
Supplied from India by SV Botanica — FSSAI Central Licence holder, Spices Board and APEDA registered exporter. Raw-material origin is stated per lot; headless percentage, stem content and eugenol are certified per lot. Shipped against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with Phytosanitary Certificate and full export documentation. Packing is buyer-specified, and container stuffing photographs are provided on request.
Guides on clove grades, eugenol and sourcing
Where clove actually comes from and how the trade routes work.
TechnicalHow clove's dominant compound is assayed and what the figure tells you.
QualityPart substitution on clove, from stems to spent bud, and what catches it.
Buyer's GuideParts, grades and what to require on the certificate.
RegulatoryResidue limits, per-lot testing and what stops consignments at the border.
RegulatoryDocumentation, controls and border expectations for Indian spices.
Other warm spices from our range
Technical and commercial questions answered by our ingredients team
Grade 1 and Grade 2 whole bud or ground, with headless percentage stated, stem content limited, eugenol test report per lot and origin stated. Tell us your grade requirement.
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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