04.CEYLON CLOVES

Prized for its distinct flavour and aroma, and also for its medicinal qualities, cloves are the immature buds of the evergreen tree Syzygium aromaticum , also known as Eugenia caryophyllus of the Myrtaceae family. A fully grown clove tree is about 15-20 metres tall and has smooth grey bark. Ceylon Clove is notably richer in oil than the clove varieties produced elsewhere in the world.

HISTORY OF CLOVE TRADING AND CULTIVATION

Clove, one of the most prized and expensive spices from the ancient times, is native to the Maluku Islands or the Moluccas in the Indonesian Archipelago. Although the time and manner of introduction of cloves into Sri Lanka are not known, the general belief is that the Arabs or colonists brought the crop to the island as Sri Lanka was a major market for spices.

Along with nutmeg and pepper, clove was highly prized in the Roman Era. Cloves were traded by Arabs in the Middle ages but in the 15th century, Portugal took over the trade. The Portuguese brought large quantities of cloves to Europe mainly from the Maluku Islands and valued it at seven grams of gold per kilogram. Later on, the Spanish, and then the Dutch dominated the trade until the seventeenth century. The French introduced clove to Mauritius in the year 1770. Afterwards, clove cultivation was introduced to Guiana, Zanzibar, West Indies and most of Brazil.

PRODUCING CLOVE OIL

Clove oil can be extracted from the plant leaves, stem, and buds of the tree, through steam distillation. Generally, clove oil is obtained by the distillation of flower buds, inflorescence parts, and the leaves. Clove oil obtained from the bud is colourless while oil manufactured by the stem is a slightly yellowish liquid which gets darker with age and exposure to the light. Meanwhile, clove leaf oil, a dark brown liquid obtained by the distillation of the dry leaves, is the main traded clove oil and is widely used to produce eugenol.

USES OF CLOVE AND CLOVE OIL

Clove is largely used as dried whole buds. Ground clove is a major ingredient in curry mixtures, and clove oil is used for flavouring food, in the pharmaceutical industry, and in the perfume industry.

Cloves are used either whole or ground to add flavour for both sweet and savoury foods in pickling and the production of sauces and ketchup. It is also used in the cigarette industry as a flavouring agent.

CLOVE CULTIVATION IN SRI LANKA

Clove grows well in a humid tropical climate from sea level up to an elevation of about 1,000m. Average rainfall of 1,750 - 2,500mm. per annum is sufficient for the crop. It is necessary, however for the dry periods to alternate with the moist ones for good flowering. Still, it cannot withstand prolonged drought. Clove is cultivated in the wet zones of the mid-country, that is, in the districts of Matale, Kegalle, and Kandy. However, cultivation of clove is also being considered in the low country.

Clove suppliers in Sri Lanka export a range of products to the global market including the finest clove buds and clove oil to the global market. The country is one of the top exporters of clove to the global markets and provides for nearly 8.5% of the global demand for clove whole fruits, buds, and stems, mainly exporting to India, the USA, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Germany.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CLOVES

Elaborating on the medicinal value of clove oil, it must be noted that it is an important natural antibacterial drug. It is used in many fields, including dentistry, pharmaceuticals, and aromatherapy. It is used as an analgesic, antiseptic, warming, disinfectant, and antibacterial because it inhibits the growth or kills most pathogens, such as E.scherichia coli, Mycobacterium phlei, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum. Clove oil is recommended for inhalation in the treatment of sore throat, colds, catarrh and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth. It also helps in the treatment of any breathing problems, general weakness and neuralgia.

Clove oil also has antioxidant effects, which renders it a convenient and accessible source of natural antioxidants in food supplements and pharmaceutical preparations. Clove oil has anticonvulsant effects as well, which were already known in Persian folk medicine. The cloves were there used as a cure for epilepsy as narrated by the Arab physician Avicenna who lived in the late tenth and eleventh century.

Owing to its potent medicinal effects, clove oil is an ingredient of many pharmaceutical preparations, ointments and painkillers. It is also a substrate for the production of dental analgesic preparations. In combination with zinc oxide, it is used to fill cavities in teeth. In addition, clove oil is included in mouthwash and gum liquids, toothpaste, and preparations for disinfection of hands.

Clove oil boosts concentration and efficiency of thinking. In addition, it revitalizes, energizes, exhibits analgesic and serves as an “aphrodisiac”. It’s also a natural food preservative due to its antibacterial and antifungal effects.

Best known as a sweet, aromatic spice, Cloves are actually flower buds that grow in the Clove tree, which is scientifically known as Syzygium aromaticum. A native to Indonesia, it is mainly grown in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Madagascar.

Highly-priced for its unique aroma, Clove was an ingredient that triggered many trade wars in the past and is still widely used in many industries across the world including food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and alternative medicine industries.

SHAPES AND SIZES

Clove is available in many forms in the market. A clove is made out of the stem and bulbous head. The best quality cloves are screened manually and selected by hand and are exported as hand-picked cloves to the global market.

The ground cloves can also be known as the powdered version of cloves. Cloves consist of high capacity of oil content. This oil which gives cloves their fragrance is known as Eugenol. Eugenol has turned out to be an essential component when it comes to the production of perfumes, toothpaste, mouthwashes, and cosmetic items. Clove oil can be extracted from either the leaves, stems or the buds. The process can either involve water distillation or the CO2 extraction method where instead of steam, CO2 is used as a solvent in the later process. Oil extracted through the C02 method is usually thicker.

Cloves from Sri Lanka, identified with its geographical indication of Ceylon Cloves, are available as clove oil and clove pods.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CLOVE PRODUCTS

Clove pods and essential oils offer many health benefits including;

• Benefits digestive system

• Soothes mental tensions

• Regulates blood sugar

• Soothes acne

• Improves liver health

• Improves scalp health

• Improves oral health

• Rejuvenates skin

• Improves respiratory tract health

USES OF CLOVE

Clove has been a popular spice and essential oil for at least four centuries, traded across Indian Ocean trade routes through Africa to Europe. First used as a food additive, a preservative and a rubbing oil clove based products are used across industries, today.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY

Clove pods, powder, and oil have always been a popular food additive celebrated for its sharp flavour and aroma. Ground cloves are mostly used as a spice since they are easily blended with other ingredients than whole cloves. With a shelf life of six to twelve months, cloves are a popular ingredient in many dishes across the world.

While clove power and pods are used mainly in the preparation of foods and confectioneries, clove oil is used to flavour tea, coffee and other beverages such as wine. Clove is added to various types of wine to increase its aroma and flavour and is a unique speciality in the wine world.

Cloves are also used in the production of a special type of cigarettes known as Kreteks, which are considered to be safer since they lack toxic chemicals. Made out of 60% to 80% of tobacco and 20% to 40% of ground clove oil, these cigarettes are mainly made in Indonesia, where additional spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and cumin are also used in the production process.

PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

Cloves hold a prominent place as an ingredient for medical and oral health products. It is a common ingredient in toothpaste and mouth rinse because of its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Cloves are used in the production of dental gels that treat a range of oral conditions from gum issues to oral ulcers and periodontitis. Clove oil cream is another medicinal product used especially on Anal fissures. Similar creams are made using clove oil and are used to treat premature ejaculation.

Since Eugenol in cloves can be repellent against certain insects such as mosquitoes it is the main ingredient present in mosquito repellent and the power to keep away mosquitoes for around 5 hours when applied on the skin.

COSMETIC INDUSTRY

Clove's prominent use in the cosmetics industry is mainly due to its remarkable fragrance and numerous benefits it has on the skin and hair health. Rich with Vitamins C and A, Potassium, Manganese, Phosphorous, Iron, and sodium clove oil is a potent treatment against acne and skin blemishes and helps the skin retain its elasticity. Therefore, it is used in the production of cosmetic items such as Ointments, lotions, scrubs, bath bombs and bath teas. Eugenol derived from clove oil is also used in soap and provides exfoliating and antimicrobial properties.

Cloves positive effects on hair and scalp also make it a widely used ingredient in hair conditioner and hair oil. The spicy and musky aroma caused by Eugenol, Eugenyl acetate, and Caryophyllene in clove, makes it an essential ingredient in the production of fragrance and perfume. A fragrance that contains clove oil and essence is considered to be more stimulating and is even considered an aphrodisiac in popular culture.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Widely used as a pain reliever and a mild anaesthetic, clove oil is a popular ingredient used in manufacturing various types of drugs and connotations. Clove oil is widely used in aromatherapy to relieve pain, stress, tension, and induce relaxation and sleep. Furthermore, clove oil is used in mouth rinses to relieve bad breath and promote oral health.

PRESERVATIVE

Clove oil is often used on paintings as a preservative for water-based mediums such as watercolour, egg tempera, glue, and casein. The effect it has on paintings as a retarder for oil paint drying is still on the discussion as some artists have found out that it creates a film layer on top of the painting with time and makes the painting darker when exposed to sunlight.