Clove variety · Regional type
Kanniyakumari Clove
Also known as Kanyakumari Clove, GI Kanniyakumari Clove
Kanyakumari district, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu (Maramalai, Blackrock Hill, Velimalai; Veerapuli Reserve Forest, Mahendragiri tracts) · Maramalai and Blackrock Hill Planters Associations / ICAR institutes · 2019 (GI registration)
Unusually high volatile-oil content (around 21%, against typical 18%) yielding approximately 86% eugenol. Slow sun-drying in cool mountain air at 400–900 m altitude locks in oil. The only Indian clove with an official Geographical Indication.
Key facts
| Type | Regional type |
|---|---|
| Origin | Kanyakumari district, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu (Maramalai, Blackrock Hill, Velimalai; Veerapuli Reserve Forest, Mahendragiri tracts) |
| Breeder / source | Maramalai and Blackrock Hill Planters Associations / ICAR institutes |
| Year released | 2019 (GI registration) |
| Parentage | Forest-grown seedling selection, local landrace |
| Yield | A mature, well-managed tree commonly yields 2–4 kg of dried buds per year; some individual trees reported to yield up to 8–10 kg in peak years (reported) |
| Tolerance | Adapted to humid tropical Western Ghats climate; tolerates forest-shade conditions. Vulnerable to drought and sun-scorch if exposed too early. |
| Distinctive features | Plump, dark-brown buds with intact round heads and oily appearance. Hand-picked bud-by-bud from homestead canopies rather than plantation rows. |
| Grown in | Kanyakumari district (Tamil Nadu), representing ~65% of India's clove crop; also grown in Tenkasi, Idukki (Kerala), Nilgiris, high ranges |
| Also known as | Kanyakumari Clove, GI Kanniyakumari Clove |
Figures are indicative, compiled from public agricultural sources (ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, the Spices Board and the National Innovation Foundation) and vary with soil, season and management. Confirm with your local package of practices.
Kanniyakumari Clove in detail
Kanniyakumari clove is India's only clove with official Geographical Indication status, prized for volatile oil content reaching about 21% and delivering around 86% eugenol—measurably higher than standard varieties.
Origin & story
Cloves were introduced to India around 1800 by the East India Company, via a spice garden in Courtallam. Kanyakumari district's Western Ghats—particularly Maramalai, Blackrock Hill, and Velimalai in the Veerapuli Reserve Forest and Mahendragiri tracts—became a primary cultivation zone. The Maramalai and Blackrock Hill Planters Associations secured Geographical Indication recognition in 2019, making this the first and only GI-registered clove in India.
How it grows
Grown at roughly 400–900 m altitude in Tamil Nadu's Western Ghats, benefiting from monsoon rains and sea mist that supplies moisture. Trees begin producing 7–8 years after planting and can live for 100 years or more. Buds are hand-picked bud-by-bud from homestead canopies, harvested when the base of the calyx turns from green to pink. Natural sun-drying at elevation, with regular raking, minimizes essential-oil loss and concentrates volatile compounds. Kanniyakumari district accounts for over 65% of India's roughly 1,100-tonne annual clove production, with Tamil Nadu output close to 1,000 tonnes.
Quality & character
Plump, dark-brown buds with intact, rounded heads and an oily appearance. The buds carry around 21% volatile oil—roughly 3 percentage points above the typical 18%—yielding eugenol near 86%, alongside eugenol acetate. This chemical profile gives a potent, complex aroma and flavour. Good cloves are full-crowned, smooth-textured, and crisp when dry.
Why it matters to buyers
The GI tag guarantees origin and a high volatile-oil specification, of interest to perfumery, pharmaceutical, and Ayurvedic formulators who value reliable eugenol and eugenol acetate concentration for consistency. Kanniyakumari cloves suit applications demanding stronger aroma and potency than commodity grades.
About clove
Clove in India is a crop of forest gardens and homesteads rather than formal plantations, grown almost entirely from local seedlings in the high-rainfall Western Ghats. There are no widely released commercial varieties from ICAR or SAUs, though the Kanniyakumari Clove earned a Geographical Indication in 2019 for its exceptional oil strength. What India…
Live market rate
Today's clove price
See the latest clove rate, daily range and recent trend from verified mandi & auction sources.
Other clove varieties
From the Western Ghats
Buy clean, graded clove from AroWest
AroWest is the spice & aromatics label of Western Crest Ventures LLP — hand-cleaned, sorted, sealed and traceable harvests from Idukki and the wider Western Ghats. Registered LLP · Udyam (MSME) · FSSAI · GST.