Question about difference between carob powder and cocoa powder

[Rawkincake]

I just ordered a bunch of stuff at Natural Zing and spent quite a bit of money - I bought a lb of cocoa powder for $20 and a lb of carob powder for like $6. I am planning on making some super candy for the first time :)
My question is - is there a cheaper alternative to cocoa powder? And - what is the difference between carob, cocoa, cacao powders?

Thanks!

[raweater]

Carob is what's normally used as an alternative to cacao. I'm 99% sure cacao and cocoa are simply different spellings for the exact same thing.

[Rawkincake]

GRRRRR LOL - I just read that carob powder and cocoa/cacao are interchangeable in Ani Phyos book! I am going to see if I can change my order really quick!

[lanettasmouse]

keep in mind that cacao and carob have a totally different taste from one another. at least to me anyways. maybe keep the order and see if you like one or the other after trying them out. i personally would rather have cacao, but itry to do half and half that way to cut the costs when making a recipe.

[Snoozy]

I agree they have a different taste. If you want a chocolate taste, you may be disappointed with carob. I like the taste of carob but I don't pretend it's chocolate.

[Tropigal]

cocoa= processed usually roasted "chocolete" powder

cacao= "usually" raw unaltered unprocessed "chocolate" ie; raw chocolate

carob= totally different, grows on a tree & has a "chocloate like" flavor, to some. from the pods on the tree, i think it is actually in the legume family although some consider a fruit.

[rawbutterfly]

Yes, you can use carob in place of cocoa, but if you want a really chocolate flavor you will be dissapointed in the carob. I love carob in smoothies, but for desserts, I would definately go for the cocoa.

[Rawkincake]

I couldn't figure out how to change my order so I will be able to taste both :)
Too bad it isn't the other way around as far as price goes!

[Dimond]

Natural Zing's carob doesn't taste very good so you may not enjoy it as much as cacao. Good carob is an excellent chocolate substitute.

[Rawkincake]

Who has good carob?

[jacsam]

When you first try carob be sure that you know it doesn't taste like chocolate or cocoa powder. I do use it in place for cocoa powder and have grown to love carob over cocoa. By the way carob is delicious, and it doesn't have the caffiene that chocolate does. For awhile I would mix it half and half but now I prefer carob over cocoa.

[Rawkincake]

When you first try carob be sure that you know it doesn't taste like chocolate or cocoa powder. I do use it in place for cocoa powder and have grown to love carob over cocoa. By the way carob is delicious, and it doesn't have the caffiene that chocolate does. For awhile I would mix it half and half but now I prefer carob over cocoa.

Thanks! BTW - I used to be a dark chocolate junkie - is carob like dark chocolate?

[Apple^^]

I've heard that carob tastes less bitter... I haven't had the chance to try it myself
Yeah, where can you get good carob? I'm new to this raw thing and I'm just lost on where to get all these things

[Bobbie]

Roasted carob does taste like chocolate but the raw stuff doesn't. I used to love buying (cooked) carob bars and carob-covered raisins, but they made other people I gave them to, throw up. Some like me had no problems, others threw up every time. I also used to love mixing cooked carob powder with water and fruit-sugar to eat as dessert.
The first time I bought some raw carob powder I put 1 spoonful in a smoothie and it made me throw up really really badly.
So my mum threw away the whole packet. Which I was upset about because it cost £10 ($20). In the UK, carob is £10 - $20 and cacao is £20 - $40.
So be careful with carob - some people are sensitive to it, and throw up.
Unlike cacao, it doesnt contain caffeine and theobramine. The latter is the thing that kills dogs which is why they mustn't have chocolate. Some humans also react to it (although it would take a lot more kill them).

Taste wise, cacao is what you need for chocolately experiences. But carob needs far less sweetener so is a lot cheaper all round.

[parsnip]

When I was a kid, my mom used to give me carob and tell it was like chocolate, and I HATED it. But now I like it. And it never makes me throw up. :)

I still don't think it's that much like chocolate, really, but it's good in a different way.