A flowering evergreen tree in the legume family. It is grown as an ornamental tree and for its edible pods. The carob is native to the Mediterranean and Middle East and grows up to 15m tall.
The pods are ground to produce a powder which can be used as a replacement for cocoa. Carob is naturally sweet, and contains no caffeine or theobromine found in cacao.
It is a relatively drought and frost tolerant plant, preferring well-drained soil but is adaptive to a variety of conditions.