The clove of commerce is the air-dried unopened flower bud obtained from an evergreen medium-sized tree. The tree grows to a height of 10-12 meters and starts 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.

The use of clove in whole or ground form is mainly for culinary purposes and as a flavoring agent in the food industry. Its flavor blends well with both sweet and savory dishes. It is highly valued in medicine as carminative, aromatic, and stimulant. In Indonesia, the lion’s share of production is consumed in the 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 the preparations of toothpaste and mouthwashes, soaps, and perfumes. It is also reported to help diabetics in sugar assimilations.