What to do with carob pod?

[Linda1970]

I just got a few carob pods. I took a bite, and the bean is so hard that there is no way I can eat it.

Is the bean edible?
Is carob powder made from carob pod (not bean)?

Thanks in advance.

[mellisamouse]

Juast bumping it up as I am also curious! ;)

[Sheryl]

Carob can be very different between regions. I've had carob from Palm Springs California, and it was almost impossible to eat. Hard and dry with almost no flesh. Carob from South Australia is succulent and almost like chewing toffee. Really.

If you leave carob pods in a bowl on the counter they will soften over a couple of days. If you have pods with very thin flesh it might not help much. You can also soak them in water overnight, remove seeds, and blend in smoothies. I've also broken them open, removed the seeds, and ground in my Vitamix into carob meal. It beat carob powder hands down.

Carob powder is just the ground pod. Regular carob powder is heated to allow it to be ground so fine. Really raw carob powder is more of a carob meal and wayyyy tastier than cooked carob powder.

Carob seeds are too hard to eat - watch for them carefully as you eat the carob pod. My favourite way to eat them is to break in half, then nibble from the middle.

The seeds grow really well (with our Australian supply anyhow). They are also used commercially to make thickening or binding agent, particularly for canned pet food. Carob pods are also fed to cows in Australia!

Cheers,
Sheryl