Clove variety · Botanical type
Sri Lankan type
Also known as Ceylon clove, Sri Lanka clove
Sri Lanka (introduced from Indonesia or Zanzibar in colonial era; cultivation established 19th century onward) · Sri Lankan growers and plantation industry · 19th century onward
Sri Lanka is a secondary but important clove producer with good yields and consistent quality. Grown under coconut and mixed shade in plantation systems. A reference type for tropical plantation clove.
Key facts
| Type | Botanical type |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sri Lanka (introduced from Indonesia or Zanzibar in colonial era; cultivation established 19th century onward) |
| Breeder / source | Sri Lankan growers and plantation industry |
| Year released | 19th century onward |
| Parentage | Imported Indonesian or Zanzibar seedlings; adapted to Sri Lankan conditions |
| Yield | Reported yields averaging 250 kg/ha under typical smallholder conditions; up to 800–850 kg/ha with intensive management |
| Tolerance | Not specifically evaluated for India; adapted to tropical Sri Lankan highlands |
| Distinctive features | Large, dark buds; plantation-grown under shade systems similar to some Indian homestead models. Ceylon cloves noted for exceptional eugenol content (70–85%) |
| Grown in | Sri Lanka highlands (Kandy, Matale, elevations 600–900 m); referenced in Indian trade; not widely grown commercially in India |
| Also known as | Ceylon clove, Sri Lanka 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.
Sri Lankan type in detail
Sri Lankan cloves are shade-grown plantation buds prized for their high oil content and bold aroma, grown in the wet zones of the island's mid-country.
Origin & story
The exact path of clove introduction to Sri Lanka is not well documented, but the crop is generally understood to have arrived in the colonial era, likely from Indonesia or Zanzibar. Plantation cultivation became established across the mid-country wet zone (Kandy, Kegalle and Matale districts) from the 19th century onward, with growers developing the shade-based systems still used today.
How it grows
Cloves are grown under coconut and mixed shade plantation systems, with trees serving as a compatible intercrop in coconut estates. Cultivation runs from sea level up to about 1,000 m elevation in the mid-country wet zone, where rainfall of 1,750–2,500 mm per annum is sufficient. Shade is essential during the first two or three years of growth; harvesting runs from December to April depending on locality, when buds reach the right stage. Average yields are about 250 kg/ha dry weight, with well-managed estates reaching around 850 kg/ha.
Quality & character
Ceylon clove buds are dark, large and oil-rich, and the spice is noted as being richer in oil than clove produced elsewhere, with eugenol making up roughly 70–85% of the essential oil. Well-dried buds have a deep brown colour and a spicy-sweet aroma; pale, mealy buds indicate poor processing. Green buds picked at the right stage give about 30% of their weight as dry cloves.
Why it matters to buyers
Sri Lanka supplies nearly 8.5% of global clove demand, exporting chiefly to India, the USA, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Germany, and Ceylon clove is recognised in trade for its high essential-oil content. Well-dried cloves at 8–10% moisture can be stored in gunny bags without fungal or insect damage for one to two years.
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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