The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) is a plant belonging to the legume family (Fabaceae), the same family as beans (Cicer arietinum), mimosa (Acacia dealbata), arabic-gum (Acacia senegal) and thousands of other species ...
The carob tree is originally from Palestine/Israel/Arabian Peninsula and should have been introduced by the Moors in Iberia Peninsula (carob comes from the Arabic al-harruba).
In the past, the pods were used as animal food (horses, mules, pigs, etc.) and also in human food (in times of famine, and as festive food). Some Christian traditions state that it was the ascetics and prophets’ food (John the Baptist - so in English, it is called St. John's bread).
The carob seed flour contains mucilage that is used as a thickener in some foods (soups, ice cream) and also has pharmaceutical applications (bowel movements).
The word carat comes from the Greek kerátion (little horn) and come to some Europeans languages via the Arabic word qirat. Each carat is the equivalent to 200 mg (0.2 grams) - the approximate weight of a carob seed because in the past, these seeds were used as units of weight, especially for precious stones.
When referring to gemstones, carat corresponds to 200mg, when it comes to gold, carat is a measure of purity and not of weight. For example, 24 carat gold is pure gold, 18 carat gold represents 18 parts gold and the remaining 6 (to make up 24) are a mix of other metals.
A well-known romance of Agatha Christie (1890-1976) is Cat Among Pigeons, (1959) in which the Jewels of a Indian prince, weighting many carats, were hidden inside a ... well, I can not tell….
The carob tree is originally from Palestine/Israel/Arabian Peninsula and should have been introduced by the Moors in Iberia Peninsula (carob comes from the Arabic al-harruba).
In the past, the pods were used as animal food (horses, mules, pigs, etc.) and also in human food (in times of famine, and as festive food). Some Christian traditions state that it was the ascetics and prophets’ food (John the Baptist - so in English, it is called St. John's bread).
The carob seed flour contains mucilage that is used as a thickener in some foods (soups, ice cream) and also has pharmaceutical applications (bowel movements).
The word carat comes from the Greek kerátion (little horn) and come to some Europeans languages via the Arabic word qirat. Each carat is the equivalent to 200 mg (0.2 grams) - the approximate weight of a carob seed because in the past, these seeds were used as units of weight, especially for precious stones.
When referring to gemstones, carat corresponds to 200mg, when it comes to gold, carat is a measure of purity and not of weight. For example, 24 carat gold is pure gold, 18 carat gold represents 18 parts gold and the remaining 6 (to make up 24) are a mix of other metals.
A well-known romance of Agatha Christie (1890-1976) is Cat Among Pigeons, (1959) in which the Jewels of a Indian prince, weighting many carats, were hidden inside a ... well, I can not tell….
i think i was told that they were sometimes used as a cacao substitute. i remember i tasted them in a miniature orchard in ojai valley a few years ago - they were indeed a bit chocolaty...
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