How much vitamin C is in one clove?

December 22, 2025 •

4 min read

According to USDA data, a single raw garlic clove contains a small amount of vitamin C, typically ranging from 0.9 to 2.8 milligrams, a modest contribution to one's daily intake. However, when asking how much vitamin C is in one clove, it is crucial to distinguish between a garlic clove and the spice known as a clove. The nutritional profile differs significantly between the two, though both provide only minimal vitamin C per serving.

Quick Summary

A single garlic clove provides a minimal amount of vitamin C, far below daily requirements, while a single serving of the spice clove is also not a significant source. Both can contribute to a healthy diet but are not primary suppliers of this vitamin. The content is heat-sensitive in garlic, affecting its final nutritional value.

Key Points

Low Vitamin C per Serving: A single garlic clove provides only a small amount of vitamin C, typically less than 3% of the daily value.
Garlic vs. Spice: The amount of vitamin C differs between a garlic clove and a spice clove, though both are minor sources per typical serving.
Heat Sensitivity: Cooking garlic diminishes its vitamin C content, so consuming it raw or adding it near the end of cooking is best for preserving nutrients.
Minimal Contribution: The amount of vitamin C from a pinch of clove spice is negligible due to its tiny serving size.
Other Nutrients: Both garlic and spice cloves are more significant for their other compounds, including antioxidants like allicin (in garlic) and eugenol (in spice cloves).
Not a Primary Source: For adequate vitamin C intake, focus on fruits and vegetables like oranges and bell peppers rather than garlic or clove spice.

The Distinction: Garlic Clove vs. Spice Clove

When people ask "how much vitamin C is in one clove?" they are often unaware that there are two common kitchen items that fit this description. The most common reference is to a clove of garlic, a segment of the garlic bulb. The other, less common but also valid interpretation, refers to the aromatic, dried flower bud known as a clove spice. Each has a different nutritional makeup and provides vitamin C in varying, albeit small, amounts.

Vitamin C in One Garlic Clove

A typical raw garlic clove weighs about 3 grams. The amount of vitamin C in this small portion is minimal, offering only a fraction of the daily recommended intake. Depending on the source, a single raw clove contains anywhere from 0.9 to 2.8 milligrams of vitamin C. To put this into perspective, the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C for adult men is 90 mg and for adult women is 75 mg. A single clove, therefore, provides less than 3% of the daily need for a typical adult.

Factors Affecting Garlic's Vitamin C Content

Freshness: Fresher garlic tends to have a higher nutrient content, as vitamin C can degrade over time.
Preparation: How you prepare garlic can dramatically affect its vitamin C levels. Vitamin C is heat-sensitive, and cooking methods like roasting or boiling will significantly reduce its potency. Crushing or chopping raw garlic and letting it sit for about 10 minutes before cooking can help preserve its beneficial compounds, including some of its vitamin C.
Storage: Proper storage in a cool, dry place can help preserve the garlic bulb's nutritional integrity longer than improper storage, such as refrigeration.

Other Nutrients in Garlic

While not a powerhouse for vitamin C, a single garlic clove offers other valuable nutrients in small doses. These include:

Manganese
Vitamin B6
Selenium
Fiber
Potassium
Calcium

Garlic is also rich in organosulfur compounds, like allicin, which are responsible for many of its touted health benefits, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Vitamin C in One Spice Clove

Clove spice, the dried flower bud of the Syzygium aromaticum tree, is a concentrated source of nutrients per unit of weight. For example, a reference shows ground cloves having 80.8 mg of vitamin C per 100g. However, the key here is the typical serving size. A single, whole clove spice weighs only a fraction of a gram, and ground portions are used sparingly. As a result, the amount of vitamin C you would get from adding a few cloves to a dish is virtually negligible.

Nutrients in Clove Spice

Though not a good source of vitamin C per serving, clove spice is known for other benefits, including:

Manganese: Extremely high in manganese.
Fiber: A good source of dietary fiber.
Antioxidants: Rich in powerful antioxidants like eugenol.
Vitamin K: Contains a significant amount of vitamin K.

Comparison Table: Vitamin C Content


Item	Estimated Serving Size	Approximate Vitamin C (mg)	Notes
Raw Garlic Clove	3 grams (1 clove)	0.9–2.8 mg	Content can vary; decreases with cooking.
Ground Clove Spice	1 teaspoon (2.1 grams)	~1.7 mg	A tiny portion of this is used in cooking, making the intake minimal.
Half an Orange	1 medium orange	~35 mg	Used for comparison as a well-known source of vitamin C.

Conclusion: A Minor Contributor

In summary, both a garlic clove and a spice clove contain vitamin C, but neither should be considered a significant dietary source due to their small serving sizes. A single raw garlic clove provides a few milligrams at best, which is a tiny fraction of the daily requirement. Similarly, the amount of spice clove used in cooking is so small that its vitamin C contribution is negligible. For a robust intake of vitamin C, it is far more effective to rely on other foods rich in this essential nutrient, such as citrus fruits, bell peppers, and strawberries. While both garlic and clove spice offer other important health benefits, primarily from their antioxidant and mineral content, they are not a reliable way to boost your vitamin C levels.

For further information on daily requirements:

For detailed information on the recommended daily intake for various age groups and demographics, you can consult sources like the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.

Maximizing Nutrient Intake

To make the most of the nutrients in garlic, it is best to consume it raw, or add it to dishes late in the cooking process. For clove spice, its value lies more in its concentrated antioxidant properties and flavor profile rather than its trace vitamin C. A balanced diet incorporating a variety of fruits and vegetables is the most effective strategy for meeting your vitamin C needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, garlic is not considered a good source of vitamin C. While it does contain the vitamin, the amount in a single serving is minimal and contributes very little to the daily recommended intake.

Yes, cooking can significantly reduce the vitamin C content in garlic, as vitamin C is heat-sensitive. For this reason, consuming raw garlic or adding it to meals at the end of the cooking process is recommended to preserve nutrients.

A teaspoon of ground cloves contains approximately 1.7 milligrams of vitamin C. Because a much smaller portion is typically used, the amount consumed per serving is almost non-existent.

A single garlic clove provides a tiny fraction of the vitamin C found in an orange. For example, a medium orange can contain around 70 milligrams of vitamin C, while a garlic clove has only 1-3 milligrams.

For adult men, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin C is 90 mg per day, and for adult women, it is 75 mg per day.

In addition to a small amount of vitamin C, a garlic clove offers other nutrients like manganese, vitamin B6, selenium, and fiber. It is also known for its beneficial organosulfur compounds, such as allicin.

While spice cloves are more concentrated in nutrients by weight, the amount of spice used in a recipe is so small that the nutritional intake is negligible. For example, ground cloves are notably high in manganese and rich in antioxidants.