Food
Carob
A naturally sweet, caffeine-free pod powder that stands in for chocolate and has long been used to help settle a mild upset stomach.
🌱 What it is
Carob comes from the dried, roasted pods of the carob tree, a Mediterranean evergreen. The pods are ground into a dark, sweet powder that tastes something like cocoa but has no caffeine or theobromine.
✨ How it may help
- May help satisfy a chocolate craving without the caffeine
- Traditionally used to help firm up loose stools, especially in children
- Naturally sweet, so less added sugar is needed in recipes
- Contains fiber and a bit of calcium
🥄 How to use it
Stir carob powder into warm milk, smoothies, or baking as a caffeine-free chocolate alternative. A little carob powder mixed into water is a traditional home remedy for mild diarrhea.
🥗 Nutrition
Per 2 tablespoons (14g) carob powder · about 27 calories
- Fiber 4g
- Calcium 28mg
- Potassium 100mg
- Iron 0.5mg
Source: USDA FoodData Central
⚖️ Caution
Carob is naturally sweet, so those managing diabetes should account for it. If diarrhea is severe or lasts more than a day or two, please see a doctor.
🍃 A note from nature
Carob trees can live over a hundred years and produce pods for most of that time — a steady, patient gift from a very old tree.