Top Cloves Producing Countries

Cloves, the aromatic flower buds of the tree *Syzygium aromaticum*, are predominantly farmed in Indonesia, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka. Historically, cloves are native to the Maluku Islands (the "Spice Islands") of Indonesia, where they have been cultivated for over two millennia. The high value of cloves attracted Arab, Indian, and later European traders, fueling the spice trade and colonial expansion in Southeast Asia. The Portuguese and Dutch vied for control of the clove trade in the 16th and 17th centuries, with the Dutch enforcing strict monopolies by limiting cultivation to certain islands. However, in the late 18th century, clove plants were smuggled to other regions, notably Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) and Madagascar, which became major producers. Today, Indonesia remains the world’s largest producer and consumer of cloves, while Tanzania and Madagascar are key exporters, reflecting the crop’s enduring global significance.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat