Cloves In Cigarettes: What You Need To Know

For decades, cloves have been associated with warm spice blends, festive baking, and traditional medicine. However, their use in tobacco products—particularly clove-laced cigarettes—has sparked significant public health debate. Once marketed as a safer or more flavorful alternative to regular cigarettes, these products blend ground cloves with tobacco, creating a distinct sensory experience that masks the harshness of smoke. Today, they are tightly regulated or banned in many countries due to documented health risks. Understanding what cloves in cigarettes actually are, how they affect the body, and why they’ve drawn regulatory scrutiny is essential for informed decision-making about tobacco use.

Definition & Overview

Cloves in cigarettes refer to the inclusion of ground clove buds (*Syzygium aromaticum*)—either as an additive or primary flavoring agent—in rolled tobacco products. These are most commonly known as “kreteks,” a term derived from the Indonesian word *kretek*, which imitates the crackling sound cloves make when burned. Kreteks originated in late 19th-century Java as a home remedy for chest discomfort, combining shredded tobacco, ground cloves, and clove oil. Over time, they evolved into mass-produced commercial products, often containing up to 40% clove material by weight.

Unlike culinary uses where cloves enhance flavor in small quantities, in cigarettes, they serve multiple functions: masking the bitterness of tobacco, adding a sweet-spicy aroma, and providing a numbing effect on the throat that allows deeper inhalation. This characteristic made them particularly appealing to younger or inexperienced smokers, contributing to concerns about increased addiction potential and respiratory harm.

Key Characteristics of Clove-Laced Cigarettes

Attribute	Description
Primary Ingredient	Tobacco blended with ground clove buds and clove oil (eugenol-rich)
Flavor Profile	Warm, sweet, spicy, slightly medicinal; less acrid than plain tobacco smoke
Aroma	Distinctive clove scent, noticeable even when unlit
Burning Characteristic	Produces a crackling sound (“crepitus”) due to volatile oils igniting
Numbing Effect	Eugenol acts as a mild local anesthetic, reducing throat irritation
Typical Clove Content	20–40% of total cigarette weight in traditional kreteks
Origin	Java, Indonesia (late 1800s); now produced globally under various brands

How Cloves Function in Cigarettes: Beyond Flavor

The role of cloves in cigarettes extends far beyond mere taste enhancement. The high concentration of eugenol—the main active compound in clove oil—plays a critical physiological role in altering the smoking experience:

• Throat Numbing: Eugenol has local anesthetic properties that desensitize the upper airways. This reduces the natural cough reflex and throat burn typically caused by tobacco smoke, enabling users to inhale more deeply and frequently.
• Increased Inhalation Depth: Because the smoke feels smoother, users often take larger puffs and hold smoke longer, increasing exposure to tar, carbon monoxide, and nicotine.
• Masked Toxicity: The pleasant aroma and flavor can create a false perception of safety, leading users to believe clove cigarettes are less harmful than conventional ones—a dangerous misconception.
• Enhanced Addiction Risk: Deeper inhalation leads to faster nicotine absorption, reinforcing dependence more quickly, especially among adolescents.

“The addition of clove oil doesn’t make the product safer—it makes it more addictive and more damaging because people inhale more deeply without realizing the increased toxic load.” — Dr. Neal Benowitz, Professor of Medicine at UC San Francisco and expert in nicotine pharmacology

Variants & Types of Clove-Infused Tobacco Products

Clove-based tobacco products come in several forms, varying by region, regulation, and formulation:

1. Traditional Kreteks (Full-Strength)

Originating in Indonesia, these contain 60–80% tobacco and 20–40% ground cloves and clove oil. They are hand-rolled or machine-made and remain widely available in Southeast Asia. Brands like Djarum, Gudang Garam, and Bentoel dominate the market.

2. Clove \"Cigars\" or Blunt Wraps

In some Western markets, clove-infused cigar wraps (often labeled as “machine guns” or “java sticks”) are used to roll marijuana or tobacco blends. These are sometimes sold as “tobacco-free” but still deliver significant eugenol exposure.

3. Flavored Filter Cigarettes (Historical)

Prior to U.S. bans, brands like Kool Mixx and certain flavored Camel variants included clove extracts alongside other spices. These were not true kreteks but leveraged clove’s sensory appeal to attract youth smokers.

4. Herbal or \"Natural\" Smoking Blends

Sold online or in head shops, some herbal smoking mixtures include clove as a base ingredient, marketed as non-addictive alternatives. However, burning any plant material produces carcinogenic compounds, and clove combustion generates formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.

Tip: Be cautious of products labeled “natural” or “herbal” that contain clove. While they may lack tobacco, the inhalation of burned clove material still poses respiratory risks, including lung inflammation and bronchospasm.

Comparison with Similar Ingredients and Products

Clove cigarettes are often confused with other spiced or flavored tobacco products. Understanding the differences is crucial for accurate risk assessment.

Product	Clove Content	Tobacco?	Key Differences
Traditional Kreteks	High (20–40%)	Yes	True clove-tobacco blend; crackling sound; strong eugenol delivery
Menthol Cigarettes	None	Yes	Cools smoke via menthol; no numbing anesthetic effect like eugenol
Flavored Rolling Tobacco	Trace (if any)	Yes	May include clove essence but not structurally integral to blend
Herbal Smoking Mixes	Variable (sometimes 100%)	No	No nicotine, but combustion toxins still present; often misleadingly marketed
Regular Cigarettes	None	Yes	More immediate throat irritation; lower inhalation depth compared to clove blends

While menthol and clove both modify the sensory experience of smoking, their mechanisms differ. Menthol activates cold receptors, creating a cooling sensation. Clove oil, through eugenol, actively suppresses pain signals in mucous membranes—an effect more akin to topical anesthesia than flavor enhancement.

Health Risks and Scientific Evidence

Despite early claims of being a “milder” form of smoking, extensive research has shown that clove cigarettes pose unique and severe health risks:

• Lung Damage: Inhaling eugenol-rich smoke causes acute lung injury. The CDC has documented cases of “clove-induced bronchiolitis”—a rare, irreversible inflammation of the small airways—linked specifically to kretek use.
• Reduced Lung Function: Chronic users show lower FEV1 (forced expiratory volume) and higher rates of chronic bronchitis compared to regular cigarette smokers.
• Higher Carbon Monoxide Exposure: Due to deeper inhalation and longer smoke retention, users absorb more carbon monoxide, increasing cardiovascular strain.
• Increased Carcinogen Load: Burning cloves produces benzene, formaldehyde, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—all known carcinogens.
• Youth Appeal and Initiation: Studies show flavored tobacco products, including clove variants, are twice as likely to be tried by teens and young adults, acting as a gateway to lifelong nicotine addiction.

A 2011 study published in Tobacco Control found that kretek smokers had significantly higher levels of urinary cotinine (a nicotine metabolite) and albuminuria (a marker of kidney stress) than those smoking conventional cigarettes—even when controlling for number of cigarettes per day.

Regulatory Status Around the World

Due to mounting evidence of harm, many governments have restricted or banned clove-containing tobacco products:

United States

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (2009) banned all flavored cigarettes—including clove and cinnamon—except for menthol. The FDA explicitly cited kreteks as a major concern due to youth targeting. As of 2010, manufacturing and sale of clove cigarettes are prohibited in the U.S., though limited exceptions exist for export-only production.

Indonesia

As the birthplace of kreteks, Indonesia remains one of the few countries where clove cigarettes are widely available and culturally embedded. However, rising youth smoking rates have prompted public health campaigns and incremental tax increases on tobacco products.

European Union

The EU Tobacco Products Directive (2014) bans cigarettes with characterizing flavors, effectively outlawing clove-laced variants in member states. Enforcement varies, but importation is restricted.

Australia and Canada

Both nations prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products, including clove cigarettes, under comprehensive tobacco control frameworks.

Traveler Advisory: If purchasing cigarettes abroad—especially in Southeast Asia—check whether clove blends are included. Bringing them back to countries like the U.S. or Australia may violate customs regulations.

Practical Tips & FAQs

Are clove cigarettes safer than regular cigarettes?

No. Despite marketing claims, clove cigarettes are not safer. They deliver equal or greater amounts of nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide. The numbing effect encourages deeper inhalation, increasing lung exposure to toxins.

Can you quit smoking using clove cigarettes as a transition tool?

No credible medical organization recommends clove cigarettes as a cessation aid. There is no evidence they reduce harm or support quitting. Proven methods include nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum), prescription medications (varenicline, bupropion), and behavioral counseling.

Is eugenol safe in food but dangerous in smoke?

Yes. Eugenol is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA when consumed in food (e.g., spice blends, dental products). However, inhaling pyrolyzed eugenol—burned during smoking—produces toxic aldehydes and damages lung tissue. The route and form of exposure determine risk.

Are “clove cigars” or blunt wraps legal?

In the U.S., cigar wraps containing clove are subject to the same flavored tobacco ban if they contain tobacco. Herbal versions may skirt regulations but are not approved for human consumption and carry inhalation risks.

What are the signs of clove smoke-related lung injury?

Symptoms include persistent cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and fever after smoking. Acute cases may require hospitalization. Anyone experiencing respiratory distress after using clove tobacco should seek medical attention immediately.

Can cloves be used safely in culinary applications if someone has smoked clove cigarettes?

Yes. Culinary use of whole or ground cloves poses no risk to former users. The danger lies in combustion, not ingestion. Normal dietary consumption is safe and does not reactivate prior lung damage.

Summary & Key Takeaways

Cloves in cigarettes represent a complex intersection of cultural tradition, sensory manipulation, and public health risk. While cloves themselves are a valued spice in global cuisine, their use in tobacco products fundamentally alters their impact on the body. Key points to remember:

• Clove cigarettes (kreteks) blend tobacco with 20–40% ground clove and clove oil.
• The eugenol in cloves numbs the throat, enabling deeper inhalation and increasing toxin absorption.
• They are not safer than regular cigarettes—research shows equal or greater harm.
• Banned in the U.S., EU, Canada, and Australia due to youth appeal and health risks.
• Inhaling burned cloves can cause irreversible lung damage, including bronchiolitis.
• Culinary use of cloves remains safe and unrelated to smoking risks.

Final Advice: If you or someone you know uses clove cigarettes, treat it with the same urgency as any tobacco product. Seek support through national quitlines (e.g., 1-800-QUIT-NOW in the U.S.) or digital cessation programs. There is no safe level of inhaled tobacco or clove smoke.