Carob Powder 16 oz, (truly raw, wild, from Spain)

The carob tree is a member of the legume (pea) family and it grows in Mediterranean areas. It favors arid conditions which are naturally alien to fungus and pests so little or no chemical sprays are needed in its cultivation. It is a large tree and grows to 15m in 50 years. It produces no fruit for the first 15 yearsof its life, but will fruit well into its old age. A large tree can produce one ton of beans in one harvest.
           
The carob tree flowers in September and October. The flowers on female carob trees must be pollinated by pollen from the male trees. Developing carob pods have the appearance of green broad beans but they turn a dark glossy brown with maturity. They are between 4"and 10"long and weigh 0.75 to 1.5 oz\. The pods contain four series of oval holes, each bearing a seed like a watermelon seed. Each pod can contain up to 15 seeds.  Carob seeds and pods are edible. The ground seeds are used as a substitute for cocoa and as a food (also known as algarroba, St. John's bread.

Our Truly Raw Carob Powder is not a "fine" powder, but rather a "semi-coarse" powder or meal (like cornmeal). Fine carob powders require a heating process of at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit, our semi-coarse carob powder is truly raw and unheated. The minimal heat that is generated is the result of the unique grinding process using a high-speed "hammer grinder." The temperature does not reach over 100 degrees. Harvested from carob-pod trees growing wildly in Spain! Priced per pound.