0907.10.00.00 - Neither crushed nor ground

This HTS category, 0907.10.00.00, specifically covers whole cloves. Cloves are the dried flower buds of the evergreen tree *Syzygium aromaticum*, native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. In this classification, "whole" refers to the un-milled form of the spice, meaning the buds remain intact and have not undergone any mechanical processing to break them down. This includes both the flower buds themselves and the associated stems that are often harvested and sold together.

It is crucial to distinguish this category from its sibling, 0907.20.00.00, which covers cloves that are "crushed or ground." The defining characteristic for classification here is the physical state of the product. If the cloves have been processed to break them into smaller pieces, whether through crushing, grinding, or any other milling process, they would fall under the 0907.20.00.00 code. This distinction is important for customs purposes, as it often reflects differences in use, market value, and potential for adulteration.

As a leaf node, this category has no further subcategories. Therefore, the classification within 0907.10.00.00 is solely determined by whether the cloves are presented in their whole, un-milled form. Any further breakdown of the product will necessitate classification under the "crushed or ground" sibling category.