Cloves

Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum, syn. Eugenia aromaticum) are the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree in the Myrtaceae family. Its homeland is Indonesia, and the spice is used all over the world. Cloves are harvested primarily in Indonesia (the Banda Islands, also known as the “Spice Islands”) and Madagascar. It is also grown in Zanzibar, India and Sri Lanka. The clove tree is evergreen and grows to a height of 10–20 m. It has large oval leaves and purple flowers in numerous groups in inflorescences at the tips of the branches. The flower buds are initially light in color, but gradually turn green, then develop to bright red and are then ready to pick. Cloves are harvested when the buds are 1.5 to 2 cm long and consist of a long calyx ending in four spread sepals and four unopened petals forming a small ball in the middle.