What buyers actually specify
A clove is an unopened flower bud, and the two things a buyer checks first are the volatile oil — overwhelmingly eugenol — and the headless percentage, because a broken-off head is where the oil sits. A lot with a high headless count is a weaker lot whatever the certificate says about weight.
Those two numbers, with moisture and extraneous matter, are what we agree with you on the purchase order and what the Certificate of Analysis reports back.
Specification
This is a made-to-order line, so the grade is agreed against your purchase order rather than fixed here. Every parameter below is measured and reported on the NABL-accredited Certificate of Analysis that ships with the lot.
| Parameter | Basis |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Syzygium aromaticum |
| Origin | Confirmed on the purchase order |
| Grade | Agreed against your specification |
| Volatile oil (eugenol) | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| Headless cloves | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| Moisture | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| Extraneous matter | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| Ethylene oxide | Not detected |
Forms and packaging
- Whole cloves — hand-picked, graded to your specification.
- Ground — on request; grind size specified by you.
- Packing — agreed on the PO, with moisture-barrier options for long sea transit.
Commercial terms
Made to order against a confirmed purchase order, so lead times are longer than our stocked lines. Price and minimum order quantity are quoted per contract on an FOB or CIF basis — there are too many variables in origin, grade, packing and freight for a list price to mean anything. Payment terms and documentation follow the same pack as our stocked lines. Ask and we will put a number and a date against your specification.
Compliance
Every lot ships with a NABL-accredited Certificate of Analysis, a Spices Board Certificate of Origin and a Phytosanitary Certificate. Ethylene oxide is not used at any stage; residues are reported against the EU sum limit of 0.1 mg/kg for ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol under Reg. (EC) 396/2005, and against the US tolerance of 7 ppm under 40 CFR 180.151. Aflatoxin and ochratoxin A are reported against the maximum levels in Reg. (EU) 2023/915.
Common questions
What headless percentage can you hold to?
It depends on the lot and the grade you specify, so we will not put a number on a web page we cannot honour for every shipment. Tell us your ceiling and we will tell you whether we can meet it before you commit.
Is the eugenol content certified?
Volatile oil is measured and reported on the NABL-accredited Certificate of Analysis that ships with the lot.
Do you supply ground cloves?
Yes, on request. Grind size is specified by you. Ground spice degrades faster than whole, so we agree packing and shelf-life expectations on the same order.