ceratonia siliqua (carob tree)

The carob (Ceratonia siliqua) is a flowering evergreen tree or shrub in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is widely cultivated for its edible pods, and as an ornamental tree in gardens and landscapes. The carob tree is native to the Mediterranean region and the Middle East.In the Mediterranean, carob pods are often used as animal feed, and in times of famine, as 'the last source of [human] food in hard times'. The ripe, dried, and sometimes toasted pod is often ground into carob powder, which is sometimes ...