Tamil Nadu Spices: Kanyakumari Cloves (Laung)

Tamil Nadu spices at Gardenia Whispers are, for now, one product: whole cloves from Kanyakumari, known as laung in Hindi. Kanyakumari is a GI-registered origin for cloves, and these cloves grow on the sea-facing slopes of the Western Ghats near Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of Tamil Nadu. Buy Kanyakumari laung online in 30 g, 100 g and 200 g packs, sourced directly from our farmer partner.

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Kanyakumari Whole Cloves (Laung) are hand-picked just before the flower opens, when the oil in the bud is at its peak. They are sun-dried right at the farm and packed fresh, with no middlemen or warehouse storage. Crack one between your fingers and you will see the oil straight away.

A GI (Geographical Indication) is an origin mark. The Kanyakumari GI links the name to this clove-growing region of the Western Ghats.

How to use Kanyakumari laung

Add whole buds to masala chai, biryani and pulao.
Use them in tempering and slow-cooked curries.
Dry-roast and grind them into homemade garam masala.
Stud them into onions for stock, or add them to pickling spice blends.
Bake them into fruitcake, gingerbread and spiced cookies.

How to choose a pack size

Pick the 30 g pack if you use cloves now and then in chai or biryani. The 100 g pack suits regular home cooking. Choose 200 g if you grind your own garam masala or cook for a big family. Buy whole and grind only what you need, since whole cloves hold their aroma far longer than powder.

This collection is small for now, and we are adding more Tamil Nadu spices over time. Until then, browse our whole spices collection for the rest of your kitchen.

Tamil Nadu spices FAQs

What buyers ask about our cloves.

What makes Kanyakumari cloves special?

They come from Kanyakumari, a GI-registered origin for cloves in the Western Ghats. They are hand-picked just before the flower opens and sun-dried at the farm.