Origin and history
The carob tree is a typical Mediterranean tree, native to the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. Since antiquity, it has been cultivated for its edible pods, called carobs , whose sweet pulp served as an energy source for travelers and animals. The seeds, of remarkably consistent weight, were long used as a unit of measurement for gold and precious stones—the origin of the word carat . In popular tradition, carob was also known as "St. John's bread," because, according to legend, it nourished John the Baptist during his time in the desert. Today, it is being rediscovered as a natural alternative to cocoa and as a wellness ingredient.
