Organic Carob Powder 200g

HISTORY & ORIGIN

Carob, also known as “St. John's bread”, has been cultivated for centuries in the Mediterranean region. Due to its resistance to harsh climatic conditions and its high nutritional it became a staple food. Old civilizations used it as a natural sweetener in traditional recipes. Carob Pods were dried and ground to create flour to create breads, drinks and sweets. Nowadays Carob remains a timeless symbol of tradition and authenticity. It is being re-discover as a natural alternative to sugar and wheat flour connecting tradition with modern dietary trends.

Carob (known as "Χαρούπι" in Greek) is one of nature’s most underestimated fruit. This dark brown pea pod is naturally sweet and tastes similar to cacao. It is an excellent source of calcium, fiber, protein, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. In other words Carob is a nutritional treasure, a superfood that should have a place in everyone’s diet. Our Organic Carob Powder brings you this Health Powerhouse in an easy to use versatile form.

The history of Carob cultivation in Crete

The Carob tree is native to the Mediterranean region and the Middle East. Crete’s tradition of cultivating and using carob in countless ways goes back to ancient times. Carob pods from the Late Minoan era have been found in archaeological excavations. This reveals the long history of the tree on the island of Crete. During the early 20th century, Crete exported carob by-products across Europe. Its first state-of-the-art carob processing plant in Elounda, made Carob a trademark industry for the region. Carob also known as the “chocolate of the poor” saved the Cretan population from starvation during WWII. During that time the livelihood of the Cretan people was especially tied to what the island produced.

Today, Carob resurges after years of neglect and oblivion. Recently, a campaign was launched to get the carob tree onto the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This campaign aspires to promote Carob as a symbol of Cretan cultural heritage 

Carob’s nutritional value

Carob is rich in carbohydrates in the form of glucose and sucrose. It is thus a quick energy source. Carob is also a source of protein. Our Organic Carob Powder offers 4.7g of Protein per 100g. It contains almost no fat and is very rich in fiber (30g per 100g of Product). Very easy to digest our Organic Powder does not contain gluten. It is therefore suitable for people suffering from celiac disease. Carob is an excellent source of vitamins (A, B2, B3, B6) and trace elements: potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese and copper. Like Cacao, Carob contains polyphenols which are antioxidants known to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Carob Health Benefits

The scientific name of Carob is Ceratonia siliqua and is derived from the Greek kera. Kera means horn, referring to the keratomorphic shape of the pods. The Latin word siliqua describes the pods’ hardness and shape. Carob is a fruit growing on a tree belonging to the legume family. It has with significant health benefits as a food and is used in cosmetic applications too.

Here are five facts that make Carob an Exceptional Energy Food

1) Essential vitamins: Carob is loaded with essential vitamins, including E, D, C, Niacin, B6, and folic acid, as well as low levels of vitamins A, B2, and B12.

2) Dietary fibers and minerals: Minerals in carob pods include K, Na, Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn. Carob has twice the amount of calcium compared to Cacao. It also contain dietary fiber, pectin and proteins

3) Carob promotes health: Studies have shown that Carob can help prevent some chronic diseases. This is due to its high content in antioxidants, polyphenols and fibers. Our Organic Carob Powder contains 30g of fiber per 100g and thus promotes bowel movement. It lowers "bad" LDL cholesterol, reduced inflammation and therefore the risk of heart disease

4) Caffeine- and fat-free:  Carob is free of any caffeine, it has practically zero fats and no sodium

5) Gluten-free: Carob is the ideal dietary choice for people with gluten intolerance as it is naturally gluten-free

A summary of the benefits of Carob can also be found here

The Potential Health Benefits of Carob

How to use our Organic Carob Powder in recipes 

Although the flavor will be notably different, carob can also be substituted in any recipe that calls for cocoa powder at a 1:1 ratio.

Here are a few suggestions for its use:

1) Carob Brownies: When you’re craving a wholesome dessert, look no further than Gluten-Free Vegan Carob Brownies, made with high-fiber oat flour and a nutrient-dense almond butter frosting. If you’d rather stick with a tried-and-true brownie recipe that calls for 1/4 to 1/3 cup cocoa powder, substitute ½ cup carob powder for a more intense flavor. 

2) Carob Shake: For 2 servings, combine in the container of a food processor or blender 1 cup plant-based milk, 2 tablespoons carob powder, 3 or 4 ice cubes, maple syrup / or dates / or honey / or Yacon syrup to taste. Process until frothy for a delicious and refreshing drink. You could also take this opportunity to sneak in an extra serving of fresh spinach, like in this Carob Green Smoothie

For a Greek version of a delicious Sweet Carob beverage, cold or hot with Banana, check the recipe by Akis Petretzikis here:

Carob and Banana Smoothie

3) Carob energy balls: Much like you’d use cocoa powder to make energy balls, swap in carob powder for another kind of flavor profile. Here are Carob Energy Bites, made with just four ingredients. 

4) Hot carob drinks: Use carob powder much as you’d use cocoa powder in hot beverages made with plant-based milk. Try this dairy-free Warm Spiced Carob Milk.

5) Cereal topper: Sprinkle a teaspoon or two of carob powder over a serving of cold breakfast cereal. The same can be done for hot cereal like oatmeal, to make a warming breakfast in the winter. 

6) Dark bread enhancer: To add a rich flavor to homemade bread dough, substitute 2 to 3 tablespoons of each cup of flour with carob powder. This is especially nice in dark rye breads like this hearty Old World Black Bread.

Nutritional information (per 100g) of our Organic Carob

• Energy: 1331kJ / 318kcal

• Fat: 0.4g, of which saturated: 0g

• Carbohydrates: 59g, of which Sugars: 47g

• Edible Fibers: 30g

• Proteins: 4.7g

• Salt: 0g

INGREDIENTS

Carob Powder, a product of Organic Farming

Discover our Organic Cocoa Powder here !