The clove is the unopened flower bud, air-dried and obtained from an evergreen medium-sized tree. Clove clusters are plucked by hand when the buds are fully developed with a pronounced pink flush and then dried over several days in the sun. Unopened flower buds, leaves and stalks yield essential oil. The use of clove in whole or ground form is mainly for culinary purposes and as a flavoring agent in the food industry. Its flavor blends well with both sweet and savory dishes. It is highly valued in medicine as carminative, aromatic and stimulant and has a well-established record in the ancient Indian Medicine field of Ayurveda.