Lalpari cloves are Indonesian cloves sold under a trade name that is well established in the South Asian spice trade. Importers ask for them by name because the trade links “Lalpari” with hand-picked, reddish-brown cloves that have a distinctive head and a strong aroma. This guide covers what the name means, why Indonesia leads world clove production, which specification figures to check and how the cloves are used in your market. It also explains how to order whole cloves in bulk from Sekawan Cipta Dinar, an Indonesia cloves exporter based in Sidoarjo, near Surabaya.
What “Lalpari” Means in the Clove Trade
Cloves are the dried, unopened flower buds of the evergreen tree Syzygium aromaticum. The buds turn bright red when they are ready to pick, then dry to the dark reddish-brown spice buyers know.
“Lalpari” (also written “Lal Pari”) is a commercial trade name, not a botanical variety. The Indian clove trade uses it for cloves from Indonesia, which competes with Madagascar to be India’s largest clove supplier (UN Comtrade/WITS data, 2024-2025). In Hindi and Urdu, lal means red and pari means fairy, so the name reads literally as “red fairy”. It most likely refers to the colour.
A 2021 report by the Indonesian Consulate General in Mumbai covered a discussion organised by the Negeri Rempah Foundation. According to that report, Indian importers associate Lalpari with:
- a reddish-brown colour
- buds picked directly by hand
- a distinctive crown (head)
- drying without fermentation
- oil content above 18% and eugenol above 70%
There is no single official definition, so treat Lalpari as a trade name. Whichever Indonesian clove Lalpari supplier you use, write the specification you need (colour, volatile oil, moisture, foreign matter and stems) into your contract.
Why Indonesian Cloves Lead World Production
Native to the Spice Islands
Cloves are native to the Maluku Islands (the Moluccas), the “Spice Islands” of eastern Indonesia. Until modern times they grew only on a handful of islands there, including Ternate, Tidore, Moti, Makian and Bacan. Ternate’s “Afo” clove trees on the slopes of Mount Gamalama are known as some of the oldest in the world. The original Afo, estimated to be several hundred years old, fell around 2000. Clove seedlings were smuggled out of Maluku around 1770, and this later let Zanzibar (Tanzania), Madagascar and the Comoros become producers.
The world’s largest producer
According to FAO data, Indonesia produced 133,604 tonnes of cloves in 2020. That is more than five times the output of the second producer, Madagascar (23,931 tonnes). Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture puts the country’s share at about three-quarters of world production: 73.9% on average in 2019-2023, based on FAO data. The Directorate General of Estate Crops (Ditjenbun) reported preliminary output of about 148,000 tonnes in 2024.
Two features of Indonesian supply matter to importers:
- Smallholder farming. About 97-98% of output comes from smallholder plantations (Ministry of Agriculture). Exporters therefore work through partner farmers, and sorting is essential.
- Strong domestic demand. Indonesia’s kretek (clove cigarette) industry is the largest domestic user of cloves (Ministry of Agriculture, Outlook Cengkeh), so exporters compete with local buyers for the same crop.
Producing regions and harvest calendar
Cloves grow across Indonesia from Aceh to Maluku, and Java is also a significant producer. Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi and Maluku were the top three provinces in 2024 (Ditjenbun). Over 2019-2023, the Sulawesi provinces together produced more than 40% of national output (Ministry of Agriculture).
| Region | Typical main harvest |
|---|---|
| Java | May to July-August |
| Sumatra | Varies by district, typically mid-year |
| Sulawesi and Maluku | Dry mid-year months, often around July-September |
The main harvest generally falls between about May and September, depending on region. Timing also shifts with local rainfall and from year to year, so confirm expected shipment windows in your quotation. Madagascar and other origins harvest at different times, which is why cloves are traded all year round.
Pickers harvest the buds by hand, cluster by cluster, when the heads look full but before the flowers open. The buds are then separated from the stems and sun-dried until they are dark reddish-brown and brittle.
Indonesia’s Place in Your Market
Indonesia and Madagascar are the world’s leading clove exporters. UN Comtrade data published through the World Bank’s WITS database (HS 090700) shows the following Indonesian clove exports (latest reported data, subject to revision):
- 2023: about 13,900 tonnes (US$99.6 million)
- 2024: about 52,000 tonnes (US$324.9 million)
- 2025: about 39,400 tonnes (US$221.1 million)
From 2023 to 2025, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and China were all among the top five destinations. India has been the largest destination since 2024, and Saudi Arabia was the leading destination by value in 2023.
Indonesia’s share of clove imports in target markets (by value, WITS/UN Comtrade)
| Market | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 68.6% | 82.8% | 63.6% |
| China | 59.4% | 81.0% | 97.0% |
| Singapore | 5.7% (2nd supplier) | 56.8% (1st) | 30.8% (2nd) |
| Japan | 16.8% (2nd) | 17.0% (2nd) | 13.5% (2nd) |
| UAE | 17.0% (3rd) | not yet reported | not yet reported |
In 2023-2025, Indonesia supplied between about 64% and 83% of Saudi Arabia’s clove imports and between 59% and 97% of China’s. Singapore’s share moves a lot from year to year, which is common in a trading hub.
Lalpari Cloves Specification: What to Check
The table below shows our published specification for Lalpari cloves and why each figure matters.
| Parameter | Our Lalpari cloves | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Volatile oil | 18-21% | Drives aroma and flavour strength; key for oil distillers |
| Moisture | 8-12% | Affects storage life, mould risk and the weight you pay for |
| Foreign matter | 0.5-1% | Dust, leaves and debris add weight but no value |
| Stems | 1-2% | Stems dilute a lot that is bought for its buds |
| Colour | Rich reddish-brown | The visual signature buyers expect from Lalpari |
| Aroma | Strong | A quick sensory check of freshness and oil content |
Understanding clove oil content
Clove oil content (volatile oil) is the most important number on a clove specification. Eugenol makes up roughly 72-90% of the essential oil distilled from cloves and gives cloves most of their aroma. Our published volatile-oil range of 18-21% is at or above the 18% oil level the Indian trade associates with Lalpari cloves. If your application needs a eugenol figure, include it in your inquiry so we can discuss it before quoting.
Terms to know when reading a spec
Besides stems (the stalks of the flower cluster), buyers also check for:
- Mother cloves: ripe fruits.
- Blown cloves: opened flowers that have lost their petals.
- Exhausted cloves: cloves whose oil has already been distilled out.
If your contract needs limits for these, include them in your inquiry.
How to Verify Quality Before You Buy
When you compare offers from any Indonesia cloves supplier, use the same checklist:
- Ask about samples, and check any sample against the agreed specification before a bulk order.
- Ask for a certificate of analysis (COA). Our QC process includes lab testing and a QC report for each batch (moisture, colour, aroma and essential-oil content). A COA is available on request.
- Run simple sensory checks:
- Colour: even reddish-brown, not pale or dusty.
- Heads: most buds should keep their round head intact.
- Aroma: strong and clean when crushed, never musty.
- Cleanliness: spread a sample on white paper to spot stems and debris.
- Put the specification in the contract, including tolerances and how arrival samples will be drawn and tested.
How Lalpari Cloves Are Used in Your Market
Saudi Arabia and the UAE
The Arabic word for clove is qaranful (قرنفل). Arabic coffee (qahwa) is spiced mainly with cardamom, but is sometimes flavoured with cloves or saffron. Kabsa spice mixes regularly include cloves, alongside black pepper, cardamom, saffron, cinnamon, black lime (loomi) and bay leaves. Cloves are also among the main ingredients of many baharat blends. The Gulf’s large South Asian communities use whole cloves in biryani and garam masala, and the Lalpari name is familiar across the South Asian spice trade.
China
Cloves (丁香, dīngxiāng) are a standard component of Chinese five-spice powder (五香粉). The other usual ingredients are star anise, fennel seed, cassia and Sichuan pepper. The blend flavours braised and roasted meats, such as Cantonese roast duck and red-cooked dishes.
Japan and Singapore
In Japan, cloves (クローブ, also 丁子 chōji) are used in spice blends such as curry powder and in processed foods. Singapore is a regional trading hub that both uses and re-exports cloves.
Industrial applications
Clove oil is made by steam distillation of buds, leaves or stems, and Indonesia and Madagascar are its main producers. Its main component, eugenol, is used in:
- pharmaceutical, cosmetic and fragrance products
- toothpaste and soaps
- dental materials, where it is combined with zinc oxide
What Drives the Lalpari Cloves Price
Clove prices move with the market, so we quote per order rather than publishing price lists. The main factors behind any Lalpari cloves price are:
- Harvest size and yield cycles. Indonesian clove trees bear in cycles of roughly two years in some areas and three to four years in others. In low years, output can fall sharply compared with peak years.
- Madagascar’s crop, the other major origin.
- Domestic kretek demand, which competes with exporters for the same cloves.
- Quality parameters: volatile oil, colour, intact heads, moisture, stems and foreign matter.
- Order volume and packaging.
- Freight costs and the IDR/USD exchange rate.
For example, Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture reports that clove prices fell 14.81% in 2020 compared with 2019. The causes were an abundant harvest and weaker demand during the pandemic. Prices recovered in 2021-2022.
Packaging, Shipping and Export Documents
Packaging options include vacuum packs, bulk packing, aluminium foil, kraft bags and PP bags, depending on your requirements and the product. We are based in Waru, Sidoarjo, close to Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, one of Indonesia’s main container ports.
Each shipment can come with a COA, MSDS, phytosanitary certificate, HS code and other documents your market requires. Cloves fall under HS heading 0907, which is split into 0907.10 (whole) and 0907.20 (crushed or ground). Confirm the national tariff line with your broker.
Import requirements at destination (overview)
- Saudi Arabia: the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) regulates food imports and uses electronic platforms for product registration and shipment clearance.
- UAE: emirate-level authorities (for example, Dubai Municipality) control food imports under federal rules.
- China: overseas food manufacturers must register with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). The registration rules were revised recently, so confirm which route applies to cloves.
- Singapore: importers need a Singapore Food Agency (SFA) licence or registration, a TradeNet account and an import permit for each consignment.
- Japan: each food import needs an import notification to the quarantine stations of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) under the Food Sanitation Act, and consignments may be inspected.
Requirements change, so always confirm current rules with your customs broker or the relevant authority. Tell us your destination early so the document set can be agreed in the quotation.
Ordering from Sekawan Cipta Dinar
Our Lalpari cloves go through four quality-control layers:
- Procurement and pre-sorting from partner farmers.
- Cleaning and drying to agreed moisture standards.
- Lab testing and a QC report for each batch (moisture, colour, aroma and essential-oil content), with a COA on request.
- Packing and export documents prepared to your requirements.
We also supply other Indonesian commodities, such as coffee, cinnamon and ginger. Our Grade A Robusta and Arabica green coffee beans come from Java. You can also ask us about combining products in one shipment.
Request a Quote for Lalpari Cloves
To get a quote, send us your destination port, required quantity, packaging, target specification and the documents you need:
- Quote form: sekawanciptadinar.id/#order
- WhatsApp: +62 852-3001-7377
- Email: inquiry@sekawanciptadinar.id
Our team replies within 24 working hours and sends you a proforma invoice to review. You can also read more about us or reach us through our contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Lalpari cloves a separate clove variety?
No. Lalpari is a trade name for Indonesian cloves associated with a reddish-brown colour, a distinctive head and a strong aroma. There is no single official definition, so agree the specification in your contract.
What is the clove oil content of your Lalpari cloves?
Our published volatile-oil range is 18-21%. Moisture is 8-12%, foreign matter 0.5-1% and stems 1-2%. A COA is available on request.
Can I check quality before placing a bulk order?
Yes. Each batch comes with a QC report, and a COA is available on request. Sample availability and terms can be discussed when you request a quotation.
Which documents come with an export shipment?
A COA, MSDS, phytosanitary certificate, HS code and any other documents your market requires.
Why does the Lalpari cloves price change from year to year?
Price depends on harvest size in Indonesia and Madagascar, kretek demand, quality, order volume, packaging, freight and exchange rates. We quote per order.