Clove oleoresin is prepared by solvent extraction of clove buds. The considerable amount of final product is obtained by using different types of solvents available in the market. However in view to make food safety product, ethanol is generally used as a solvent agent, as this is regarded as non toxic material compared with the other solvents. The oleoresin is extremely concentrated product which contains more flavoring ingredients that can be soluble in the particular solvent used, as it turns much close to original clove flavor and odor.

Until modern times, cloves grew only on a few islands in the Maluku Islands (historically called the Spice Islands), including Bacan, Makian, Moti, Ternate, and Tidore.[18] In fact, it is believed that the oldest clove tree in the world, named "Afo," is found on Ternate—the tree being between 350 and 400 years old.[19] Seedlings from this Afo tree were stolen by a Frenchman named Poivre in 1770, transferred to France, and then later to Zanzibar which is today the world's largest producer of cloves.