Vidhata Impex

Mulund, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Description

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

Origin and Distribution

The plant is indigenous to North Molucca Islands of Indonesia. It is also grown in Zanzibar, Madagascar, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India. The tree prefers well drained rich soil with sufficient soil moisture throughout the year. High atmospheric temperature (25 to 35 degree C) with heavy sun light, good and well-distributed rainfall (above 150 cm) and high humidity (above 70%) are preferred.

Uses

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

Botanical name Family name Commercial partSyzygium aromaticum Myrtaceae Unopened flower bud

Indian Names

• Hindi : LaungBengali : LawangGujarati: LavangKannada : LavangaMalayalam: GrambuMarathi : LuvangOriya : LabangPunjabi : LaungSanskrit: LavangaTamil : Kirambu, LavangamTelugu : LavangaluUrdu : Laung

Name in international languages

• Arabic : Kabsh , QarunfilChinese : Ding xiangFrench : Clou de girofleIndonesian: CengkehGerman : Nelke

Kokam is a slender evergreen small tree with drooping branches. It is a dioecious tree growing up to 18 mtr high. The fruit is spherical, purple, not grooved having 5-8 seeds compressed in an acid pulp.

Origin and DistributionThe tree is oriental in origin, found in Southern India, particularly in the tropical rain forest of Western Ghats of Ratnagiri, Konkan, Coorg and Wynadu region. It is also found in the evergreen forests of Assam, Khasi, Jantia hills, West Bengal and Gujarat. The crop prefers warm and moderately humid tropical climate with a total rainfall range of 2500-5000mm grows under a mean annual temperature of 20-30 degree C, 60-80% humidity and up to an altitude of 800 mtrs above MSL.

UsesThe ripened, rind and juice of Kokam fruit are commonly used in cooking. The dried and salted rind is used as a condiment in curries. It is also used as a garnish to give an acid flavour to curries and for preparing attractive, red, pleasant flavoured cooling syrup. Kokam butter used as an edible fat, is nutritive, demulcent and antiseptic. The rind has antioxidant property

Indian Names

• Hindi : Kokam
• Bengali : Kokam
• Gujarati: Kokan
• Kannada : Murgala
• Malayalam: Punampulli
• Marathi : Amsol, Katambi, Kokam, Ratamba
• Punjabi : Kokam
• Tamil : Murgal

Name in international languages

• English : Indian Tallow tree/Garcinia
• French : Brindonnier
• Japanese: Garushinia