Clove variety · Botanical type
Penang type
Also known as Malaysian clove, Penang clove
Penang and Perak, Malaysia (introduced from Indonesia; first plantations at Balik Pulau, 1794) · Malaysian growers, British East India Company planters · 1794 onward (formal plantations established)
Noted as a distinct commercial type in Southeast Asian trade. Higher-yielding than some Indonesian forest types under managed conditions. A reference point for comparing Indian forest clove with modern commercial systems.
Key facts
| Type | Botanical type |
|---|---|
| Origin | Penang and Perak, Malaysia (introduced from Indonesia; first plantations at Balik Pulau, 1794) |
| Breeder / source | Malaysian growers, British East India Company planters |
| Year released | 1794 onward (formal plantations established) |
| Parentage | Indonesian clove seedlings, adapted to Malaysian plantation conditions |
| Tolerance | Adapted to tropical Malaysian climate and plantation management; not evaluated for Indian conditions |
| Distinctive features | Similar to Zanzibar type in size and appearance—large, uniform, dark buds; less emphasis on exceptional oil content |
| Grown in | Malaysia (Penang, Perak); occasionally referenced in Indian trade literature; not grown commercially in India |
| Also known as | Malaysian clove, Penang 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.
Penang type in detail
Penang clove is a commercial type from Malaysia's early tropical plantations, known for large, uniform, dark buds.
Origin & story
Cloves were introduced from the Maluku Islands of Indonesia to Penang and Perak, Malaysia by British East India Company planters in the late 18th century, with the first formal plantations established at Balik Pulau in 1794. The effort was part of British attempts to break the Dutch monopoly on the spice trade. The name "Penang type" reflects the region of cultivation and the commercial reputation those plantations built.
How it grows
Clove generally grows in warm, humid tropical climates with well-distributed rainfall, and does best in deep, well-drained loamy soils. Managed plantation systems tend to yield more reliably than unmanaged forest types under comparable conditions. Specific spacing, elevation, rainfall, and soil-pH figures for the Penang type are not well documented in the sources reviewed, so treat any precise numbers with caution.
Quality & character
Penang cloves are large and uniform with dark buds, similar in size and appearance to the Zanzibar type. As with all good clove, a typical bud has four prongs surrounding a bulbous head on a short fibrous stem, and quality whole buds release fragrance when scratched. Unlike some other types, the Penang type is not particularly noted for exceptional oil content.
Why it matters to buyers
Penang cloves are valued in markets where large, uniform whole buds matter for appearance. Historically the bulk of the world's commercial clove and clove oil has come from Zanzibar and Pemba, with Penang supplying a smaller share of high-grade whole buds for export. Buyers should request specifics on grade, moisture, and oil content directly from the supplier rather than assuming a fixed standard.
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…
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