| Clove |
| Description | |
|
The
clove of commerce is the air-dried unopened
flower bud obtained from evergreen medium
sized tree. The tree grows to a height of
10-12 mtrs and start flowering in about
7 years. It continues to produce flower
buds for 80 or more years. It is a valuable
spice of the orient. Clove clusters are
plucked by hand when the buds are fully
developed with a pronounced pink flush and
then dried over several days in the sun.
Unopened flower buds, leaves and stalks
yield essential oil.
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|
| Origin and Distribution | |
| The plant is indigenous to North Molucca 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. In Indonesia, the
lion share of production is consumed in
production of ‘kretek’ cigarettes.
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.
|
|
Botanical name
|
Family name
|
Commercial part
|
|
Syzygium aromaticum
|
Myrtaceae
|
Unopened flower bud
|
| Indian Names | |
| Hindi | : Laung |
| Bengali | : Lawang |
| Gujarati | : Lavang |
| Kannada | : Lavanga |
| Malayalam | : Grambu |
| Marathi | : Luvang |
| Oriya | : Labang |
| Punjabi | : Laung |
| Sanskrit | : Lavanga |
| Tamil | : Kirambu, Lavangam |
| Telugu | : Lavangalu |
| Urdu | : Laung |
Name
in international languages
|
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