Gewürznelke

Die Gewürznelken, auch Nelken genannt, sind die stark duftenden und brennend scharf schmeckenden, getrockneten Blütenknospen des Gewürznelken-Baumes, einer ursprünglich in Indonesien auf den Molukken (Gewürzinseln) beheimateten Pflanzenart. Die Bezeichnung Nelken kommt von der an Nägel erinnernden Form der Knospen. 

Cloves thrive in lowland humid tropical areas where the temperature is fairly steady, growing best in an island setting at elevations below 300 metres[200 ]. Notions about the ecological requirements of the clove vary, perhaps because of an underlying dilemma: a climate with a marked dry season promotes flowering, but the tree does not cope at all well with stress[303 ]. There are two ways out of this dilemma. The first is to choose a climate with a pronounced dry season, but to limit stress by going for deep fertile soils, providing water and shade during the early years[303 ]. The other way is to choose a wet climate with a short dry season[303 ]. The best quality cloves for use as a spice are grown in the wetter climates where annual rainfall is in excess of 1,500mm and usually in the range 3,000 - 4,000mm[303 ]. Requires a light, well-drained soil, requiring some shade, especially when young[200 ]. Growth can be sustained on poor and acid soils, but waterlogging is very harmful[303 ]. Requires shelter from the wind[303 ]. The clove tree is monoecious, flowers are hermaphrodite and self-pollinating. The tree matures between 8-10 years after planting[303 ]. Clove trees live for more than 100 years, the oldest tree recorded is aged 375 years in Indonesia[303 ]. Generally, it takes 20-30 years for clove to attain full bearing[303 ]. Bloom Color: White/Near White(orange, yellow).

Edible Parts: Flowers Fruit Oil Edible Uses: Condiment Oil Tea Flower buds - dried and used as a spice in a variety of foods such as cakes, baked apples and mincemeat[301 , 303 ]. The buds are sometimes chewed after meals[301 ]. An essential oil obtained from the plant is used as a flavouring in a wide range of foods such as bakery products, chewing gums, ice cream, sauces and candies[301 ]. Fruit pulp[301 ].

Cosmetic Essential Insecticide Oil Parasiticide Pot-pourri Teeth Other Uses: Clove oil is extracted by water distillation and mixes well with cinnamon, cedar, lavender, rose and bergamot. Essential oil content in good quality cloves may exceed 15%. The oil is dominated by eugenol (70-85%), eugenol acetate (15%) and beta-caryophyllene (5-12%). Cloves contain about 2% of the triterpene oleanolic acid[303 ]. It is used in perfumery, as a flavouring and medicinally[238 ]. The cloves are used in potpourris and pomanders[238 ].

Heimisch: BR, KM, Maluku, São Tomé [I]; Somalia [I]; Zanzibar [I]; Mozambique [I]; Mauritius [I]; La Réunion [I]; Nepal [c]; India [I] (Kerala [I], Tamil Nadu [I]); Sri Lanka [I]; Andaman Isl. [I]; Nicobar Isl. [I]; Myanmar [I]; Thailand [I]; Laos [I]; Cambodia [I]; Vietnam [I]; Java [I]; Moluccas; Fiji [I]; Palau [I]; Fed. States of Micronesia [I] (Yap [I], Pohnpei [I]); Honduras [I]; Cuba [c]; Cayman Isl. [c]; Hispaniola [c]; Guadeloupe [I]; Martinique [I]; St. Vincent [I]; Trinidad & Tobago [I] Eingeführt: Borneo, Caroline Is., Comoros, East Usambara, Gulf of Guinea Is., India, LA, Madagascar, Mare Aux Cochons, Morne Seychellois National Park, Praslin National Park, SC, ST, Seychelles, Tanzania, Trinidad-Tobago, Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve