Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionIngredientsHealth EffectsConnection With Tobacco UseLegal StatusFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Ingredients
Health Effects
Connection With Tobacco Use
Legal Status
Frequently Asked Questions
People today are much more aware of the health hazards of cigarettes. However, this knowledge has led some to try to find less risky alternatives—which are often just as dangerous (if not more so) than traditional cigarettes. Clove cigarettes, which are made from dried cloves, are one example of a different type of cigarette that poses serious health risks.
Many people mistakenly believe clove cigarettes, also known as kreteks, are a safe, more natural, and lesstoxicalternative to regular cigarettes. However, they are just as problematic as traditional cigarettes and pose many health risks.
Clove cigarettes actually containmore nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxidethan traditional cigarettes. They also take longer to smoke, which means you are exposing yourself to a higher risk of lung damage.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Keep reading to learn more about what clove cigarettes are, their health risks, and why they are not a less dangerous alternative to regular cigarettes.
What Exactly Are Clove Cigarettes?
Produced in Indonesia and distributed worldwide, clove cigarettes are made from cloves—the dried, unopened flower buds from the clove tree (Syzygium aromaticum),which is native to Indonesia’s Maluku Islands.
Cloves are most widely used as a cooking spice and lend their characteristic flavor and scent to clove cigarettes. The cigarettes are usually machine-rolled and come with and without filters.
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What Are the Ingredients in Clove Cigarettes?
Clove cigarettes typically contain 60% to 80% tobacco and 20% to 40% ground clove buds and clove oil.Other spices such as cumin, cinnamon, and nutmeg are sometimes added. While such ingredients sound natural and innocuous, it’s important to remember that more problematic ingredients lurk inside, too.
Nicotine, Carbon Monoxide, and Tar
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), clove cigarettes containmorenicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar than regular cigarettes sold in the United States.
Fully smoking a clove cigarette takes more time and puffs on average, and people who smoke cloves face up to 20 times the risk of acute lung damage than people who don’t smoke.People who have asthma or a respiratory infection are especially at risk of the lung health risks associated with smoking clove cigarettes.
Eugenol
Clove cigarettes also contain eugenol, a mild anesthetic that naturally occurs in cloves. This numbing effect allows the person to inhale longer and more deeply than with traditional cigarettes. In fact, eugenol is also added to some traditional cigarettes to numb the throat against the harshness of tobacco smoke.
These longer and deeper inhalations can increase the risk of lung infection, respiratory illness, and allergic reactions in some people. It’s especially risky for those with existing lung sensitivities.
Clove Cigarettes Have Serious Health Effects
According to the American Cancer Society, clove cigarettes carry the samehealth risks as traditional cigarettes, including an increased risk of cancer and heart disease.Kreteks specifically have also been associated with an increased risk for acute lung injury, including inflammation, fluid in the lungs, and low oxygen levels. Like traditional cigarettes, clove cigarettes can also cause lung cancer andnicotine addiction.
Smoking clove cigarettes can cause a variety of other potentially dangerous problems,including:
Clove cigarettes arenota healthier alternative to regular cigarettes. They have the same risks for heart disease, cancer, and addiction as regular cigarettes. They also come with additional risks, including inflammation and lung injury.
Connection Between Clove Cigarettes and Tobacco Use
As withbidi cigarettes, clove cigarettes are often a young person’s first introduction to tobacco. With its flavor and packaging, this type of cigarette appeals to young smokers and is considered a gateway product.Sweet flavors added to cigarettes soften the harsh taste of tobacco smoke, easing new smokers into what often becomes a lifelong struggle with nicotine addiction.
Because the sale of flavored cigarettes has been banned since 2009 in the United States, current data from the CDC on the prevalence of clove cigarette use among youth is lacking.
Clove cigarettes became popular in the United States among young people in the early 1980s. The trend peaked in 1984 when imports, mainly from Indonesia, totaled 150 million cigarettes per year. The trend began to reverse in 1985 as evidence suggested that clove cigarettes were more harmful than originally believed.
From 1984 to 1985, the CDC confirmed 12 cases of severe illness that may have been associated with clove cigarettes. Symptoms included pulmonary edema, coughing up blood, and bronchospasm.
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Are Clove Cigarettes Legal in the U.S.?
In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibited cigarettes with any flavor other than tobacco or menthol, which included cigarettes made with cloves or clove oil.Likewise, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 was implemented to deter kids from trying tobacco.
In 2020, the FDA turned its focus to fruit- and mint-flavorede-cigarettes, more formally known as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), because they’re more appealing to young adults than traditional tobacco and mint varieties. Companies that sell these products, including those flavored with clove, are subject to regulatory action.
As of Dec. 20, 2019, thelegal age limit is 21 years oldforpurchasing cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco productsin the U.S.
Takeaways
Clove cigarettes are not a safe smoking alternative. Any product that is lit, burned, and inhaled is hazardous to delicate lung tissue and other organs. One that contains tobacco is even more hazardous.
There is no such thing as a safe cigarette. If you are already smoking clove cigarettes—or any other type of cigarette—take steps toquit the habit and live a healthier life.
Being Honest About Why You Smoke
Frequently Asked QuestionsIn 2009, Congress enacted the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Based on the rationale that flavored cigarettes appealed to kids, the act prohibited the production and sale of most flavored cigarettes. Clove cigarettes fell under the ruling.The typical clove cigarette (also known as a kretek) is mostly tobacco (60% to 80%). Ground clove buds and oil make up the other 20% to 40%. Spices such as cumin, cinnamon, and nutmeg add flavor.The aroma of a clove cigarette is distinctively sweet and spicy, with hints of vanilla. You’ve likely encountered a similar smell if you’ve ever baked or cooked with cloves.Clove cigarettes (also known as kreteks) have been banned in the United States since 2009. However, they remain available in many other countries worldwide.
In 2009, Congress enacted the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Based on the rationale that flavored cigarettes appealed to kids, the act prohibited the production and sale of most flavored cigarettes. Clove cigarettes fell under the ruling.
The typical clove cigarette (also known as a kretek) is mostly tobacco (60% to 80%). Ground clove buds and oil make up the other 20% to 40%. Spices such as cumin, cinnamon, and nutmeg add flavor.
The aroma of a clove cigarette is distinctively sweet and spicy, with hints of vanilla. You’ve likely encountered a similar smell if you’ve ever baked or cooked with cloves.
Clove cigarettes (also known as kreteks) have been banned in the United States since 2009. However, they remain available in many other countries worldwide.
13 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Is any type of tobacco product safe?.Nurdjannah N, Bermawie N.Cloves. In:Handbook of Herbs and Spices. Elsevier; 2012:197-215. doi:10.1533/9780857095671.197El-Saber Batiha G, Alkazmi LM, Wasef LG, Beshbishy AM, Nadwa EH, Rashwan EK.Syzygium aromaticum l. (Myrtaceae): Traditional uses, bioactive chemical constituents, pharmacological and toxicological activities.Biomolecules. 2020;10(2). doi:10.3390/biom10020202Jumali AAW, Satari MH, Dewi W.Antibacterial effect of clove (Eugenia aromaticum) oil extracted from clove cigarettes towards Streptococcus mutans.Padjadjaran J Dent. 2018;25(1). doi:10.24198/pjd.vol25no1.15428Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bidis and kreteks.World Health Organization.Fact sheet on ingredients in tobacco products.Evaluation of the health hazard of clove cigarettes. Council on Scientific Affairs.JAMA. 1988;260(24):3641-3644.National Cancer Institute.Clove cigarette.Centers for Disease Control.Epidemiologic notes and reports illnesses possibly associated with smoking clove cigarettes.Arrazola RA, Neff LJ, Kennedy SM, Holder-Hayes E, Jones CD.Tobacco use among middle and high school students — United States, 2013.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2014;63(45):1021-6.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Epidemiologic notes and reports illnesses possibly associated with smoking clove cigarettes.Food and Drug Administration.General questions and answers on the ban on cigarettes that contain certain characterizing flavors (edition 2).Commissioner of the FDA.FDA finalizes enforcement policy on unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes that appeal to children, including fruit and mint.
13 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Is any type of tobacco product safe?.Nurdjannah N, Bermawie N.Cloves. In:Handbook of Herbs and Spices. Elsevier; 2012:197-215. doi:10.1533/9780857095671.197El-Saber Batiha G, Alkazmi LM, Wasef LG, Beshbishy AM, Nadwa EH, Rashwan EK.Syzygium aromaticum l. (Myrtaceae): Traditional uses, bioactive chemical constituents, pharmacological and toxicological activities.Biomolecules. 2020;10(2). doi:10.3390/biom10020202Jumali AAW, Satari MH, Dewi W.Antibacterial effect of clove (Eugenia aromaticum) oil extracted from clove cigarettes towards Streptococcus mutans.Padjadjaran J Dent. 2018;25(1). doi:10.24198/pjd.vol25no1.15428Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bidis and kreteks.World Health Organization.Fact sheet on ingredients in tobacco products.Evaluation of the health hazard of clove cigarettes. Council on Scientific Affairs.JAMA. 1988;260(24):3641-3644.National Cancer Institute.Clove cigarette.Centers for Disease Control.Epidemiologic notes and reports illnesses possibly associated with smoking clove cigarettes.Arrazola RA, Neff LJ, Kennedy SM, Holder-Hayes E, Jones CD.Tobacco use among middle and high school students — United States, 2013.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2014;63(45):1021-6.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Epidemiologic notes and reports illnesses possibly associated with smoking clove cigarettes.Food and Drug Administration.General questions and answers on the ban on cigarettes that contain certain characterizing flavors (edition 2).Commissioner of the FDA.FDA finalizes enforcement policy on unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes that appeal to children, including fruit and mint.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.Is any type of tobacco product safe?.Nurdjannah N, Bermawie N.Cloves. In:Handbook of Herbs and Spices. Elsevier; 2012:197-215. doi:10.1533/9780857095671.197El-Saber Batiha G, Alkazmi LM, Wasef LG, Beshbishy AM, Nadwa EH, Rashwan EK.Syzygium aromaticum l. (Myrtaceae): Traditional uses, bioactive chemical constituents, pharmacological and toxicological activities.Biomolecules. 2020;10(2). doi:10.3390/biom10020202Jumali AAW, Satari MH, Dewi W.Antibacterial effect of clove (Eugenia aromaticum) oil extracted from clove cigarettes towards Streptococcus mutans.Padjadjaran J Dent. 2018;25(1). doi:10.24198/pjd.vol25no1.15428Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bidis and kreteks.World Health Organization.Fact sheet on ingredients in tobacco products.Evaluation of the health hazard of clove cigarettes. Council on Scientific Affairs.JAMA. 1988;260(24):3641-3644.National Cancer Institute.Clove cigarette.Centers for Disease Control.Epidemiologic notes and reports illnesses possibly associated with smoking clove cigarettes.Arrazola RA, Neff LJ, Kennedy SM, Holder-Hayes E, Jones CD.Tobacco use among middle and high school students — United States, 2013.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2014;63(45):1021-6.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Epidemiologic notes and reports illnesses possibly associated with smoking clove cigarettes.Food and Drug Administration.General questions and answers on the ban on cigarettes that contain certain characterizing flavors (edition 2).Commissioner of the FDA.FDA finalizes enforcement policy on unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes that appeal to children, including fruit and mint.
American Cancer Society.Is any type of tobacco product safe?.
Nurdjannah N, Bermawie N.Cloves. In:Handbook of Herbs and Spices. Elsevier; 2012:197-215. doi:10.1533/9780857095671.197
El-Saber Batiha G, Alkazmi LM, Wasef LG, Beshbishy AM, Nadwa EH, Rashwan EK.Syzygium aromaticum l. (Myrtaceae): Traditional uses, bioactive chemical constituents, pharmacological and toxicological activities.Biomolecules. 2020;10(2). doi:10.3390/biom10020202
Jumali AAW, Satari MH, Dewi W.Antibacterial effect of clove (Eugenia aromaticum) oil extracted from clove cigarettes towards Streptococcus mutans.Padjadjaran J Dent. 2018;25(1). doi:10.24198/pjd.vol25no1.15428
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bidis and kreteks.
World Health Organization.Fact sheet on ingredients in tobacco products.
Evaluation of the health hazard of clove cigarettes. Council on Scientific Affairs.JAMA. 1988;260(24):3641-3644.
National Cancer Institute.Clove cigarette.
Centers for Disease Control.Epidemiologic notes and reports illnesses possibly associated with smoking clove cigarettes.
Arrazola RA, Neff LJ, Kennedy SM, Holder-Hayes E, Jones CD.Tobacco use among middle and high school students — United States, 2013.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2014;63(45):1021-6.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Epidemiologic notes and reports illnesses possibly associated with smoking clove cigarettes.
Food and Drug Administration.General questions and answers on the ban on cigarettes that contain certain characterizing flavors (edition 2).
Commissioner of the FDA.FDA finalizes enforcement policy on unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes that appeal to children, including fruit and mint.
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