Karayil Trading Company

Koyambedu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum. They are native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice. Cloves are commercially harvested primarily in Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania. Cloves are available throughout the year. People use the oils, dried flower buds, leaves, and stems to make medicine. Clove is used for upset stomach and as an expectorant. Expectorants make it easier to cough up phlegm. Clove oil is used for diarrhea, hernia, and bad breath.

Clove has been used for thousands of years in India and China not only as a spice and condiment but also as a medicine for many ailments. It helps with the digestive process. It is good for reducing flatulence, gastric irritability, dyspepsia, and nausea. The powdered form is commonly consumed with honey. Cloves have good antibacterial properties. It is considered to help in controlling lung cancer. It is also believed that extracts from cloves imitate insulin in certain ways and help in controlling blood sugar levels apart from being helpful in preserving bone density and the mineral content of bone.

Coriander also goes by the name Chinese Parsley and Cilantro. It is popularly called Dhania in India. Coriander has been used as a cooking and medicinal herb for centuries. It is considered to be a native to the Middle East and southern Europe, but has also been known in Asia. The leaves, seeds and root are all edible in the coriander plant. It is quite an essential spice in Indian preparations in the powdered form. The root is commonly used in Thai cooking. The seeds provide a very intense flavor. Leaves are often used in soups and salads. Coriander oil is used to flavor gin, vermouth, and liqueurs.