Carob is used as a substitute for cocoa powder!

Ceratonia siliqua, or 'carob tree', originates from the eastern Mediterranean region, probably the Middle East, where it has been cultivated for at least 4,000 years. It was already well known to the ancient Greeks, who spread its seeds to Greece and Italy. The seeds were used to weigh gold, which is the origin of the word "karat".

Carob is an excellent houseplant, perfect for growing on a terrace during the summer and indoors during the winter. Outdoors it is only hardy in the mildest parts of southern Sweden.

Botanical description.

Ceratonia siliaqua comes from the Mediterranean to Iran. The carob tree grows in subtropical areas but can withstand frosts down to -7 C.

Appearance.

Carob produces fruits in the form of pods (technically a type of pea) that are 15–30 cm long, quite thick and wide. The pods grow on old stems from short inflorescences. Most carob trees are monoecious, meaning they have separate male and female flowers on the same plant. This means that only one tree is needed to bear fruit.

Fruits.

The dark brown pods are edible and contain a lot of sugar (almost 40% sucrose and other sugars) and up to 8% protein. They are also rich in vitamin A, B vitamins and several important minerals. The pods can be eaten directly by livestock, but we are mainly familiar with carob because the pods are ground into a flour that is used as a cocoa substitute.

Carob flour has a slightly different taste than chocolate but contains only one-third as many calories (a total of 1595 kcal per half kilo), is almost fat-free (chocolate is half fat), is rich in pectin, rarely causes allergies, contains a lot of protein and lacks oxalic acid, which can otherwise inhibit calcium absorption. Therefore, it is often used in health food products as a chocolate-like flavoring.

Care.

The carob tree needs to be overwintered indoors in Sweden. The plant is grown in a pot and planted in a well-drained soil mixture with a sandy soil similar to citrus soil. The tree does not tolerate shade and needs light all year round, a grow light in winter is recommended while summer sun is sufficient between spring and autumn. Let the soil dry between waterings and provide nutrition for citrus trees during the summer months. Carob is an exotic fruit that can be grown in Sweden with the right care. Buy carob online!