The glycemic index of carob is very low. It does not contain caffeine and is perfectly suitable for individuals with diabetes. In general, it has positive effects on blood glucose levels and is used in the management of diabetes and obesity. The fruit of the carob tree also contains polyphenols, antioxidant compounds that aid in cancer prevention and the management of hyperlipidemia.

Carob Shake: For 2 servings, combine in the container of a food processor or blender 1 cup plant-based milk, 2 tablespoons carob powder, 3 or 4 ice cubes, and agave or maple syrup (or try the less common barley malt syrup, which really makes it a “malted”) to taste. Process until frothy for a delicious and refreshing drink. You could also take this opportunity to sneak in an extra serving of fresh spinach, like in this Carob Green Smoothie. Slice a loaf of hearty wheat bread into half inch pieces, sprinkle with olive oil, and a little bit of salt. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 – 15 minutes.Carob Pudding: Creamy avocados make a naturally rich base for this no-cook Creamy Carob Pudding. Full of good fats for clean energy, it’s also paleo- and keto-friendly. Finally, here is the recipe so many of you have been asking for! Authentic Greek Barley rusks. Not very easy to find outside of Greece, but so delicious and hearty! This Barley rusk is actually a Cretan rusk and is essentially double baked bread that is made with barley flour and sometimes a whole wheat flour. Making rusks was practiced in families that could not bake bread very often so they made these rusks. In addition rusks lasted a long time and traveled well. Barley flour was often used because it was more filling, which was necessary in those lean times. Although the flavor will be notably different, carob can be substituted in any recipe that calls for cocoa powder at a 1:1 ratio. Here are a few suggestions for its use:

My fear of embarrassment multiplies by ten when I am traveling in other countries. I barely tried to speak Spanish during my first visit to Spain for fear of sounding like an idiot. When I finally dared to ask 3 older women where I could find a restaurant, they broke out in hysterical laughter and walked away declaring me an “Americano”. Apparently, in Spanish, the “H” is silent.

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When travelling, I love coming home with bags filled with local goods, local cheeses, wild capers from Tinos, kopanisti cheese, Cretan rusks, sea salt.. I feel like all these flavours help me keep the summer mood alive!

Natural food stores are most likely to carry carob in the baking aisle nearby the cocoa powder. Though sometimes sold in bulk, you’re better off buying sealed bags, since it can otherwise sit around for years, exposed to the air and collecting dust. Carob contains moderate amounts of calcium and phosphorus, as well as smaller amounts of iron and some B vitamins. Here’s a complete look at the nutrition profile of carob.Dakos rusks, either big or small ones, are bread made with barley, which are shaped round, sort of like a bun, and then baked. But what many people don’t know is that carob is a top plant-based source of calcium. Essentially, carob contains twice as much calcium as milk, as it offers us 348mg of calcium per 100g, while in comparison milk contains only 120 to 130mg of calcium per 100g. The body’s requirements for calcium are particularly high, especially during childhood and adolescence, but also during pregnancy and menopause. Calcium is an inorganic metal, very important for bone health and beyond, since it strengthens nerves, muscles and the heart. Two tablespoons of carob honey have 42 mg of calcium! Carob contains calcium, but not oxalic acid. Oxalic acid tends to reduce the body’s ability to absorb calcium and zinc and is found in cocoa and chocolate. A diet high in oxalates also increases the risk of developing kidney stones. Carob powder does not contain oxalates. On the contrary, carob has a much lower caloric value than chocolate (it has 60% fewer calories) and is therefore considered its perfect substitute. In fact, precisely because of its high content of calcium and phosphorus, it is considered to contribute to the prevention of osteoporosis. It is known that carob fruit, the excellent carob, is an incredibly nutritious food. Apart from all its other benefits, carob contains polyphenols and tannins, which are antioxidant substances (as mentioned above) that fortify the organism. Due to the presence of at least six antioxidant substances, carobs exhibit significant anticancer activity. The chemopreventive components it contains are gallic acid, catechins, myricetin rhamnoside glycosides, eriodictyol glucoside, and quercetin glucoside. Carob trees first grew in Israeli and ancient Egypt thousands of years ago, even taking root in the oldest known piece of literature, “The Epic of Gilgamesh.” Critically important as a food source and form of currency, they were truly worth their weight in gold.