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Clove

Spice & roots· spice

Clove

What it is

Clove is the dried, unopened flower bud of Syzygium aromaticum, an evergreen tree native to Indonesia's Maluku Islands.

What it tastes like

On the nose: wintergreen, cloves. Among its measured molecules: eugenol acetate, Heptan-2-yl acetate, alpha-cubebene, methyl salicylate, α-copaene.

What goes with it

249 more go with it. See them all in the full library →

Salt and acid

Salt

0 mgAsian pear10 mgCinnamon100 mgFennel seed1,000 mgOlive10,000 mgFish sauce

Sodium 277 mg per 100 g — USDA FoodData Central 171321.

Acid

Acid not measured yet.

Unusual pairings

Pairs the library can cite that almost nobody makes.

9 of 179 compounds on file carry a paper the library can cite.

  • eugenolaromaphenolreads as odor of cloves (PubChem)Measured in 19 of 338 ingredients.cite
    76.78% by area sum, the largest peak in the chromatogram — Kiki 2023, Molecules (Table 1 (Chemical composition of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) essential oil), row 'Eugenol')
  • methyl salicylatearomaesterreads as liquid having the characteristic odor of wintergreen (PubChem)Measured in 11 of 338 ingredients.cite
    0.3 ± 0.02% of the clove oil; not detected in the nutmeg or cinnamon columns — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'methyl salicylate', column 'Clove')
  • eugenol acetatearomaphenolMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
    5.8 ± 0.14% of the clove oil; not detected in the nutmeg or cinnamon columns — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'eugenol acetate', column 'Clove')
  • Heptan-2-yl acetatearomaesterMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
    0.1 ± 0.02% of the clove oil; reported only in the clove column of that table — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row '2-heptyl acetate', column 'Clove')
  • alpha-cubebenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 4 of 338 ingredients.cite
    0.28% by area sum of clove essential oil — Kiki 2023, Molecules (Table 1, row 'α-Cubebene')
  • β-caryophyllene oxidearomaetherMeasured in 19 of 338 ingredients.cite
    0.54% by area sum of clove essential oil — Kiki 2023, Molecules (Table 1, row 'β-Caryophyllene oxide')
  • caryophyllenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 50 of 338 ingredients.cite
    21.24% by area sum — the second-largest peak, and five times the share the other analysis reports, which is the known spread of clove-oil sesquiterpene content between extractions — Kiki 2023, Molecules (Table 1, row 'β-Caryophyllene')
  • humulenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 26 of 338 ingredients.cite
    0.5 ± 0.01% of the clove oil — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'α-humulene', column 'Clove')
  • α-copaenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 18 of 338 ingredients.cite
    1.16% by area sum of clove essential oil — Kiki 2023, Molecules (Table 1, row 'α-Copaene')

On file, no cited source yet ✳

These molecules are on record for it from the library's earlier sources. We are buying and requesting the papers; each one that lands moves its molecule up into the cited list.

  • 5,7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-8-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one
  • 6-[2-O-(beta-D-Xylopyranosyl)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-7-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-oneflavonoid
  • 6-[2-O-(beta-D-Xylopyranosyl)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-7-[6-O-(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy]-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-oneflavonoid
  • valoneic acid dilactonephenol
  • eugeninphenol
  • 1,6-dimethyl-4-isopropyltetralinterpenoid
  • 3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl 6-O-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside
  • 3,4,5-trihydroxy-2-[[(10R,11S,12R,13S,15R)-3,4,5,21,23-pentahydroxy-8,18-dioxo-11,12,13-tris[(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy]-9,14,17-trioxatetracyclo[17.4.0.02,7.010,15]tricosa-1(23),2,4,6,19,21-hexaen-22-yl]oxy]benzoic acidphenol
  • [(10R,11R,12R,13R,15R)-3,4,5,12,13,21,25,26,27-nonahydroxy-8,18-dioxo-9,14,17,23,30-pentaoxahexacyclo[17.12.0.02,7.010,15.022,31.024,29]hentriaconta-1(31),2,4,6,19,21,24(29),25,27-nonaen-11-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoatephenol
  • Clove-3sugar
  • carvacrolphenolreads as thymol odor (PubChem)
  • 4-O,6-O-(2,2',3,3',4,4'-Hexahydroxybiphenyl-6,6'-diylbiscarbonyl)-3-O-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)-alpha-D-glucopyranosephenol
  • oleanolic acidacid
  • syringic acidphenol
  • Procyanidinflavonoid
  • 2-Acetyl-4-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-1,3,5-benzenetriol
  • 2-heptanolalcohol
  • palustrolterpenoid
  • β-phellandreneterpenoidreads as burning taste (PubChem)
  • 3-methoxybenzaldehydealdehyde
  • hexan-2-oneketone
  • Gallic acid 3-O-(6'-O-galloyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosidephenol
  • 5-methylfurfuralfuran
  • 1-(2-Hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-prop-2-enylphenyl)ethanoneacid
  • alpha-muuroleneterpenoid
  • 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2,8-dimethylchromen-4-one
  • gamma-muuroleneterpenoid
  • trans-Sabinene hydrateterpenoid
  • 2-nonanolalcohol
  • hexatriacontaneacid
  • γ-decalactoneether
  • 3'-(2''-Galloylglucosyl)-phloroacetophenonesugar
  • 3'-(6''-Galloylglucosyl)-phloroacetophenonesugar
  • 3'-(2'',3''-Digalloylglucosyl)-phloroacetophenonesugar
  • 3'-(2'',6''-Digalloylglucosyl)-phloroacetophenone
  • 2'',3'',6''-Tris-O-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)-3'-Glucosyl-2',4',6'-trihydroxyacetophenone
  • 3'-(2'',3'',4'',6''-Tetrakisgalloylglucosyl)-phloroacetophenonesugar
  • 2-nonanoneketone
  • galloyl(-2)[galloyl(-3)]Hex-O-galloylphenol
  • 3-O-methylellagic acidphenol
  • Casuariinphenol
  • alpha-Humulene epoxideether
  • fenchoneterpenoid
  • beta-pineneterpenoidreads as terpene odor (PubChem)
  • Tellimagrandin IIphenol
  • (2R,3R,4S,5S,6S)-2-[[(3S,8S,9S,10R,13R,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yl]oxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triolterpenoid
  • casuarininphenol
  • Rugosin Dphenol
  • Rugosin Ephenol
  • Rugosin Aphenol
  • CID 16165067phenol
  • CID 16167427phenol
  • CID 16174834phenol
  • CID 16174836phenol
  • Heterophylliin Dphenol
  • JFVYISHLYWSFQF-UHFFFAOYSA-Nphenol
  • OPDXBHTWXHHGJT-UHFFFAOYSA-Nphenol
  • Alnusnin Aphenol
  • [(10R,11R,12S,13S,15R)-13-(3-acetyl-2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)-3,4,5,21,22,23-hexahydroxy-8,18-dioxo-12-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy-9,14,17-trioxatetracyclo[17.4.0.02,7.010,15]tricosa-1(23),2,4,6,19,21-hexaen-11-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoatephenol
  • LXOYSAZBVCZIGP-FGSCYKCGSA-Nphenol
  • 5,7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-8-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]chromen-4-one
  • QJKCBMJLYJGAKY-AAUHFVRHSA-Nphenol
  • galloyl(-2)[galloyl(-3)]b-Manphenol
  • 5,7-Dihydroxy-2-methyl-8-[6-O-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
  • Dehydrodieugenolhydrocarbon
  • D-Glucose, 3-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate), cyclic 4-->1:6-->2-ester with (1S)-1-(6-carboxy-2,3,4-trihydroxyphenyl)-4,6,7,8-tetrahydroxydibenzo[b,e][1,4]dioxin-2-carboxylic acidphenol
  • propyl benzoateester
  • alpha-terpineolalcoholreads as floral, lilac (PubChem)
  • campesterolalcohol
  • isocaryophyllene oxideterpenoid
  • 1-Penten-3-one, 4-methyl-1-phenyl-
  • tetracontaneacid
  • beta-sitosterolalcohol
  • benzyl benzoateesterreads as sharp burning taste (PubChem)
  • benzaldehydealdehydereads as burning aromatic taste (PubChem)
  • beta-muuroleneterpenoid
  • Bicyclo[7.2.0]undec-4-ene, 4,11,11-trimethyl-8-methylene-, (1S,4E,9R)-terpenoid
  • Prodelphinilineflavonoid
  • eugenitin
  • delta-cadinolalcohol
  • ethyl hexanoateester
  • 4-coumaric acidacid
  • cuminaldehydealdehyde
  • salicylic acidacid
  • O-Eugenolacid
  • ibuprofenacidreads as characteristic odor (PubChem)
  • gallic acidacid
  • 5-Hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxycyclohexyl)decan-3-one
  • delta-cadineneterpenoid
  • Biflorin
  • beta-selineneterpenoid
  • eugeniinester
  • gingerolphenol
  • 2-Methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenyl 6-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranosideacid
  • 1-O-Galloylpedunculaginphenol
  • 1,3,4,9,10,10AS-Hexahydro-5,6-dihydroxy-1,1-dimethyl-7-iso-propyl-2H-9S,4AR-(epoxymethano)phenanthren-12-oneterpenoid
  • Gemin Dphenol
  • Heterophylliin Aphenol
  • 1,2,3,6-Tetragalloyl-beta-D-glucopyranosephenol
  • [3,4,5,13,21,22,23-Heptahydroxy-8,18-dioxo-12-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy-9,14,17-trioxatetracyclo[17.4.0.02,7.010,15]tricosa-1(23),2,4,6,19,21-hexaen-11-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoatephenol
  • sanguinarinenitrogen compound
  • (4aS,6aS,6aS,6bR,8aS,10S,12aR,14bR)-10-hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acidterpenoid
  • 4-Allylphenyl acetatephenol
  • quercetinflavonoid
  • coniferaldehydephenol
  • kaempferolflavonoid
  • beta-ocimeneterpenoid
  • myricetinflavonoid
  • (R)-rosmarinic acidacid
  • ellagic acidphenol
  • methyl linoleateester
  • 3,4-Dihydrocadaleneterpenoid
  • eugenoneketone
  • 5,7-dihydroxy-2,8-dimethyl-1-benzopyran-4-one
  • rhamnocitrinflavonoid
  • Cubenene
  • chavibetolphenol
  • hexanalaldehydereads as sharp, aldehyde odor (PubChem)
  • oleanolic acidterpenoid
  • Cinnamaldehydealdehydereads as sweet taste (PubChem)
  • p-coumaric acidacid
  • anetholetherreads as sweet taste (PubChem)
  • geranialterpenoidreads as strong lemon odor (PubChem)
  • cis-Calameneneterpenoid
  • gamma-cadineneterpenoid
  • α-thujeneterpenoid
  • carnosic acidphenol
  • pentagalloylglucoseester
  • stigmasterol 3-O-beta-D-glucosideterpenoid
  • β-terpineneterpenoid
  • Menthol octanoateterpenoid
  • chavicolphenol
  • trans-caffeic acidphenol
  • thymolphenolreads as aromatic odor (PubChem)
  • methoxyhydroquinonephenol
  • menthyl chavicol
  • methyl eugenolacidreads as bitter, burning taste (PubChem)
  • methyl benzoateesterreads as fragrant odor (PubChem)
  • (4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10R,11R,12aR,14bR)-10,11-dihydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acidterpenoid
  • ethyl benzoateester
  • protocatechuic acidacid
  • (-)-Rosmadialterpenoid
  • np-003686ester
  • Strictininphenol
  • isoeugenolacid
  • furfuralfuranreads as almond-like odor (PubChem)
  • casuarictinphenol
  • maslinic acidacid
  • acetophenoneketonereads as sweet pungent odor (PubChem)
  • anetholacid
  • ethyl octanoateester
  • 2-heptanoneketonereads as pear-like flavor (PubChem)
  • 2-octanoneketonereads as bitter (PubChem)
  • methyl palmitateester
  • methyl stearateester
  • benzyl salicylatephenolreads as faint sweet odor (PubChem)
  • Isobiflorinsugar
  • isoeugenolacidreads as spice-clove odor (PubChem)
  • benzyl acetateesterreads as pear-like odor (PubChem)
  • estragoleetherreads as sweet taste reminiscent of anise (differing from anethole) (PubChem)
  • melatoninnitrogen compound
  • (+)-catechinflavonoid
  • (1R,2S,7S,8S)-1,3-dimethyl-8-propan-2-yltricyclo[4.4.0.02,7]dec-3-eneterpenoid
  • (-)-γ-cadineneterpenoid
  • naphthalenehydrocarbonreads as aromatic odor (PubChem)
  • 5-Methyl-2-(propan-2-yl)cyclohexyl benzoateterpenoid
  • 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-oneketonereads as fruity taste (PubChem)
  • Epirosmanollactone
  • 1-Desgalloyleugeniinphenol
  • coniferyl aldehydeacid

Sources

  • Kiki 2023, Molecules
  • Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules
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