Carob

Where does Carob grow?

Found in: Africa, Albania, Algeria, Arabia, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Chad, China, Comoros, Crete, Croatia, Cyprus, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Malawi, Malta, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Portugal, Reunion, Russia, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Serbia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Tasmania, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United States, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: Biblical references Luke 15:16. There is only one (2) Ceratonia species. Chemical composition: Protein (crude) = 6.1% (dry). Fat = 2.6% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 2.2% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 5.1% (dry). Carbohydrate (insoluble): Starch = 1.4% (dry). Sucrose = 0.8% (dry). D-glucose = 0.4% (dry). D-fructose = 0.2% (dry). Amino acids (g [16g N]-1): Aspartic acid = 5.9g. Threonine = 2.5g. Serine = 3.0g. Glutamic acid = 7.8g. Proline = 11.6g. Glycine = 7.4g. Alanine = 3.3g. Cysteine = 1.0g. Methionine = 0.7g. Isoleucine = 2.2g. Leucine = 3.8g. Tyrosine = 2.3g. Phenylalanine = 2.5g. Lysine = 3.0g. Histidine = 1.7g. Arginine = 4.3g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.10% (dry). Potassium = 0 .09% (dry). Magnesium = 0.09% (dry). Calcium = 0.23% (dry). Na = 0.01% (dry). K = 1.48% (dry). Zinc = 17 mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 203 mg/kg -1 (dry). Manganese = 16 mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 7 mg/kg-1 (dry). Aluminium = 128 mg/kg-1 (dry). Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Status: It is a cultivated food crop.

Growing Carob

Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seed. Seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water prior to sowing. The swollen seed are then sown. They should be sown in soil at about 30°C. Germination can take 2 months. Better yielding shoots can be grafted into seedling rootstock. Cuttings can also be used. These should be from firm shoots 10 cm long. A spacing of 7-10 m is suitable.

Edible Uses: The seed pods can be eaten green or dried. They are sweet. The pulp can be used as a chocolate substitute. They are used for jam. The seed can be ground to make flour. An edible gum can be extracted from the seed. It is a thickening agent and egg substitute. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute. The leaves can be used as a green vegetable. Caution: The leaves are probably purgative. Caution: The pods contain tannin and can be toxic in large amounts.

Production: It is very slow growing. Mature trees can yield 400 kg of seedpod per year. Fruit are produced after 10-12 years when grown from seed. Trees bear fruit in the fifth or sixth year after grafting. Trees can remain productive for 80-100 years. Pods are usually shaken off the tree. They are sun dried for 1-2 days.

Nutrition Info

Carob Photos

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