Ceylon Cloves

DESCRIPTION Cloves are dried unopened buds of a tree in the Amily Myrtaceae. Cloves have a strong aromatic flavor. Cloves powerful taste is imparted by the chemicals Eugenol. Cloves stems are dry fragments of the stalks of the clove. Having the same aromatic spicy flavor as cloves buds. PRODUCTS AND USES Clove is largely used as dried whole buds. Ground clove is used for curry mixtures and clove oil is used for flavoring foods and in pharmaceutical perfumery industry. Cloves are used either whole or ground to provide flavor for both sweet and savory foods in pickling and the production of sauces and ketchups. In medicine it is valued as a carminative, aromatic and stimulant. It is being used in cigarette industry as a flavoring agent. Clove oil is used in perfumes, in dentistry and a clearing agent in microscopy. MAJOR GROWING AREAS Clove is mainly grown in Mid Country wet zone of Sri Lanka. Total extent of clove is 7618ha. and Kandy, Kegalle and Matale districts are major growing areas. CLIMATE Clove grows well in a humid tropical climate from sea level up to 1000m elevation.An average rainfall of 1750- 2500mm. per annum is sufficient. It is however, necessary that dry periods alternate with moist ones for good flowering The annual average temperature should be 20 o - 30o C without much seasonal and diurnal variation. Persistent strong winds are harmful. Shade is essential during the first two or three years of growth. Thereafter full exposure to light is beneficial. Cloves Handpicked This grade of cloves is minimum 99% free from impurity, well sorted manually with less than 10% headless, free from coco-cloves / white cloves and almost no baby cloves. Cloves Grade 1 This grade is always to be allowed at least 1% of admixture, very less baby cloves, bright in color and percentage of headless is less than 25%. The quality of cloves is as average quality with 3 to 4% admixture, is tolerable and slightly dark / bright in color.