Cloves are sourced in whole dried buds and powder, two procurement decisions that require different supplier qualifications. Filter by form on Nutrada to find GFSI-certified cloves suppliers and request bulk quotes.
| Value | Description |
| Botanical name | Syzygium aromaticum |
| Available forms | Whole dried buds, ground powder |
| Origins | Indonesia, Madagascar, Tanzania (Zanzibar/Pemba), Sri Lanka |
| Certifications | GFSI (BRCGS, IFS, FSSC 22000), EU Organic, Kosher, Halal |
| Common applications | Spice blends, baking, dental products, aromatherapy |
| Packaging | 5-25 kg bags |
| MOQ | 25kg |
| Category | Herbs Wholesale |
| Form | What it means for procurement | Typical application |
| Whole dried buds | 14-21% volatile oil content, passes floating test (sinks in water), 10-12% moisture maximum | Spice blends, mulled wine, whole spice applications |
| Ground powder | Same oil content as whole, faster flavour release, shorter shelf life than whole | Baking mixes, sauce production, instant spice blends |
Quality verification uses the floating test, high-oil cloves sink in water while low-quality cloves float. Allspice suppliers use similar high-eugenol content as a quality marker in spice blending applications.
Indonesia dominates processing infrastructure with specialized facilities in the Maluku Islands, North Sulawesi, and East Java, though most production serves domestic kretek cigarette manufacturing rather than export markets. Madagascar operates as the largest exporter through the SAVA region, with harvest seasons concentrated September through December for export-grade whole cloves. Tanzania's Zanzibar and Pemba islands maintain centuries-long cultivation expertise, producing cloves with eugenol content typically above 80% of essential oil, a quality specification that commands higher prices in pharmaceutical applications. Sri Lanka provides additional supply volumes to European markets.
Cloves are hygroscopic and must be stored below 15 degrees Celsius at under 65% relative humidity to prevent essential oil degradation. Standard packaging uses 5-25 kg moisture-barrier bags with nitrogen flushing for export shipments. Buyers should verify volatile oil content on each batch certificate as this ranges from 14-21% and determines both flavour intensity and pharmaceutical grade suitability. Shelf life reaches 24 months under controlled storage conditions.
Madagascar and Tanzania hold EU Organic certification for clove production, with Madagascar offering the deepest organic supply volumes through SAVA region cooperatives. Indonesian organic cloves face limited availability due to most production targeting domestic cigarette manufacturing. Sri Lankan organic certification covers smaller volumes but provides an alternative origin for dual-certified supply chains.
Consumer packaging formats include 20-100g glass bottles, standup pouches for whole cloves, and 15-50g tins for ground powder. MOQ for private label packaging typically starts at 500 units per SKU depending on format complexity. Buyers must specify grind size for powder formats before production, coarse grind for visible spice pieces or fine grind for uniform distribution in baking applications.
European cloves processing concentrates in Germany and the Netherlands where manufacturers blend nutmeg and cardamom for garam masala and European mixed spice formulations. Documentation to request includes volatile oil analysis, eugenol content percentage, and pesticide residue testing for MRL compliance under EU regulations.
Nutrada lists GFSI-certified cloves suppliers from Indonesia, Madagascar, and Tanzania, covering whole and ground forms across conventional and organic supply. All orders are placed directly with certified suppliers, with no intermediary.
Last updated: Apr 10, 2026
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