Carob in Cyprus: "Black Gold"
Cyprus is one of the places where carob has left the deepest economic and cultural mark in the Mediterranean. According to a study on Turkish Cypriot folk culture, carob is popularly called "black gold" and has been the dominant element of the island's agricultural production for many years; Historical sources in Limassol also state that the analogy comes from the value of the product.
In this article, we discuss the carob trade from the Ottoman period to the British rule, the warehouses and mills in Limassol, the place of carob in the island's folk culture, the carob trade between Turkey and Cyprus, and the current situation within the framework of the resources we have access to.
Cyprus and Carob: An Island Tree
Cyprus; It is a Mediterranean island that largely meets the conditions needed by the carob tree with its hot and dry summers, warm winters, calcareous and stony soils. According to Karadağ and Aylanç's (2020) study on Turkish Cypriot folk culture, carob grows almost everywhere on the island except the Mesarya plain and the Değirmenlik region.
In the semi-arid regions of the Mediterranean, carob has often been a part of the rural landscape together with olives as multi-purpose tree plantings. The changing role of these plantings in the rural landscape has been discussed as a separate research topic in the landscape planning literature (Makhzoumi, 1997). The importance of carob in the agricultural economy of the island was the subject of an article published in the journal Economic Botany as early as 1970 (Davies, 1970).
Cyprus is also mentioned in studies in Turkey. In a study on wild carob genotypes in Antalya, it is stated that carob production takes place in Antalya, Mersin, and Adana, as well as in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (Balkıç et al., 2024).
Where Does the Name "Black Gold" Come From?
The expression "black gold" is a nomenclature that can be verified in both Turkish and foreign sources. Karadağ and Aylanç (2020) write that carob, popularly called "black gold", has been the dominant element of agricultural production in Cyprus for many years. Sources compiling the history of Limassol also state that carob is called "black gold" because of its value. A 2019 article from a hotel in Limassol attributes the naming to the importance of the product as a source of foreign income.
There are two sides to the analogy: the dark brown, almost blackish color of the ripe pod and the income that the product provides to the island's economy. Behind this value lies the nature of the product itself:
- Drought-resistant trees can produce crops on lands with limited irrigation opportunities.
- The dried pods can be stored for a long time and transported to distant markets.
- Fruit; It can be used for many different purposes such as feed, food and molasses.
- The kernel has a separate raw material value for the gamut industry.
Cyprus Carob in the Ottoman Period
Carob existed on the island before the Ottoman rule (1571–1878); however, records from this period clearly show the commercial value of the product. In a source compiling the economy of Cyprus in the Ottoman period from travelers' narratives, it is stated that carob was exported from Limassol in 1598, carob was counted among the island's export products in 1745, and Larnaca was among the main export items in the 1760s.
Local records also support the same picture. According to Ali Efdal Özkul's study based on the Cyprus Sharia Registers, cotton, silk, commanderrya and raki as well as "carob" are among the items of the specialization tax collected from Kasabeteyn-i İskele and Tuzla in 1828 (Özkul, 2023). Karadağ and Aylanç (2020) state that the carob tree was given title deeds during the Ottoman administration, and this practice was abandoned after a period of continuation during the British period. The fact that the tree was given a separate title deed is a remarkable detail that shows that carob was seen as an immovable wealth on the island.
According to a history article published in the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the packaging and export of carob coincides with the 1860s, that is, the Ottoman period. Limassol merchants used to send carob from peasants to Egypt, Russia and other countries (Sophocleous, 2016).
Great Breakthrough in the British Era
The real growth of the carob trade occurred during the British rule, and Limassol became the main port of this trade. The main milestones in the sources are as follows:
- 1894: Establishment of Tragasol, which processes carob, as a company in Limassol; factory construction begins in 1913 (Sophocleous, 2016).
- 1896: Founding of the company N. P. Lanitis, which over time would become the largest exporter of carob on the island (Andrews, 2018).
- 1890–1940: Construction of carob barns by the sea in Limassol in different phases (TREASURES, 2023).
- Early 20th century: Exports to Great Britain, Russia, Romania and Egypt (TREASURES, 2023).
- 1937: History of Limassol.
The same sources state that an average of 50,000 tons of produce is harvested annually from approximately 2 million carob trees on the island, and Cyprus ranked third in carob production in 1960, behind Spain and Italy (History of Limassol; TREASURES, 2023). According to an article in the Hampshire Mills Group bulletin, carob was among the island's main agricultural exports until the end of the colonial period and before irrigated potatoes and citrus fruits came to the fore (Andrews, 2018).
Warehouses and the Mill: A Stone Trade Memory
Warehouses built in coastal cities for the collection, storage, and shipment of carob are the most visible traces of the island's carob past. One of the first warehouse complexes in Limassol is reported to have been built next to the Medieval Castle and partly during the period of Turkish rule (TREASURES, 2023).
The process carried out in the mill is the same as the steps that form the basis of today's carob industry. The pods brought by the farmers were weighed, separated according to their length, and cleaned of foreign materials such as wood and stone. The large pods were exported whole, the others were broken and sieved and separated into small pieces of carob (broken), carob flour and kernels (Andrews, 2018). Good quality large pods were reserved for human consumption, others for animal feed, flour and pellets used to make glue (History of Limassol).
After the 1960s, trade declined and many carob structures were abandoned or repurposed into other functions. Lanitis warehouses are used as meeting and eating and drinking places today; milling machines are preserved as museums (Andrews, 2018). The re-functioning of carob warehouses in Northern Cyprus has also been examined in the architectural literature (Yüceer and Vehbi, 2014). These studies draw attention to the need to preserve agro-commercial buildings as heritage items carrying the economic history of the city.
Carob in Turkish Cypriot Folk Culture
Carob is not only an export product, but also a part of daily life. Karadağ and Aylanç (2020) write that "bongurgacılar", who make a living by collecting the pods left on the branches after harvest, symbolize a separate dimension of culture. According to the same study, it is known that Dr. Hâfız Cemal Lokmanhekim (1878-1967) played an important role in the spread of serving carob syrup instead of tea and coffee.
The tradition lives on today: The Traditional Carob Festival has been held in the town of Tatlısu since 2005. The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry also registered "Cyprus carob molasses" as the name of the mahreç in the TRNC in 2016, after halloumi and zivaniya (Karadağ and Aylanç, 2020). Carob syrup and "pastelli" dessert are still made throughout the island today, and the carob festival is held every year in Peyia near Paphos (Politis, 2025). We discuss the idioms and beliefs related to carob in a separate article.
Carob Trade Between Turkey and Cyprus
In the "Cyprus" article of the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, it is stated that after 1974, 40 percent of the carob production area remained in the Turkish region and harub was among the main agricultural export products of the north (Gürsoy, TDV İA).
Cyprus is also a prominent partner in current trade. According to the table given in the BAKA report based on Trade Map data, Cyprus ranks first in Turkey's carob (carob) imports in 2022 with 449 thousand dollars (BAKA, 2024).
| Country | Turkey's 2022 carob imports ($ thousand) |
|---|---|
| Cyprus | 449 |
| Lebanon | 399 |
| Spain | 136 |
| Italy | 20 |
| Syria | 11 |
Source: BAKA (2024), based on data from Trade Map.
Since the source table does not disclose which customs territory the term "Cyprus" covers, we do not comment on whether the data reflects the entire island or a part of it.
Cyprus Carob Today
Today, carob in Cyprus is both part of the historical heritage and an agricultural product that is still being utilized. In a 2017 undergraduate thesis prepared at the Cyprus University of Technology, it is assessed that the cultivation and export of what was once the "black gold of Cyprus" has declined, but is on a recovery trend and may become profitable again (Eustathiou, 2017).
Cyprus is also a place where aquaculture research is carried out. In the BAKA report, referring to studies in Cyprus (Orphanos, 1980), it is stated that some pests (Asphondylia spp.) can attack pods at an early stage and stop their development, while hand harvesting accounts for approximately 30-35 percent of the total production cost (BAKA, 2024). In 2023, experts from institutions in Northern Cyprus also participated in the international carob workshop held in Antalya (Politika Gazetesi, 2023).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is carob called "black gold" in Cyprus?
Sources state that naming comes from the value of the product; carob has been one of the main products of the island's agricultural production and exports for many years.
When did the Cyprus carob trade peak?
Trade also existed during the Ottoman period; however, the great breakthrough centered in Limassol took place under British rule, between the end of the 19th century and the middle of the 20th century, and declined after the 1960s.
What is a carob barn?
They are large structures usually built close to ports for the storage, processing and shipment of carob. Some of them are used as museums or event venues today.
Does Turkey buy carob from Cyprus?
According to a report based on Trade Map data, Cyprus ranks first in Turkey's carob imports in 2022.
The Black Gold of the Mediterranean with Carob Türkiye
The carob culture, which extends from Cyprus to the Anatolian coast, is the common heritage of the Mediterranean. As Carob Türkiye, we supply carob fruit, crumbs, flour/powder, seeds and extracts. Our Products Our Products For a general introduction to carob What is Carob? You can read our article. For your wholesale and export requests Contact Now You can contact us on our page.
Domestic resources
Karadağ, M., Aylanç, M., "Carob and Its Usage Areas in Turkish Cypriot Folk Culture", Milli Folklor, 126, 238–248, 2020. final.
edu. en/ docs/ carobpdf[1713257989]. Özkul, A. E., "Cotton Production and Cotton Weavings Trade on the Island of Cyprus under the Ottoman Administration (18th and 19th Centuries)", Turkish Historical Society, 2023. Centuries", Turkish Historical Society, 2023. DOI: 10.37879/9789751756442.2023.55 — TTK.
gov. en/ wp- content/ uploads/ 2024/ 06/ 88- AliEfdalÖzkul. Gürsoy, C. R., "Cyprus" (geography section), TDV Encyclopedia of Islam. islamancyclopedia.
org. en/ CYPRUS Erbaş, S., "Carob Agriculture and Industry Feasibility Report", Western Mediterranean Development Agency (BAKA), Publication No: 153, 2024. DEVELOPMENT LIBRARY.
gov. en/ assets/ upload/ files/ Keciboy... Balkıç, R., Polat, İ., Gübbük, H., "Effects of Different Locations on Fruit and Seed Characteristics in Naturally Growing Wild Carob Genotypes in Antalya", Journal of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, 15(2), 74–80, 2024. doi.
org/ 10. 29048/ makufebed. 1454370 Politika Newspaper, "Another benefit of carob has emerged!" (Antalya carob workshop news), 7 August 2023. my policy.
com/ carob- one- BENEFIT- more- revealed- output Foreign sources
Davies, W. N. L., "The carob tree and its importance in the agricultural economy of Cyprus", Economic Botany, 24, 460–470, 1970. doi.
org/ 10. 1007/ BF02860752 Sophocleous, M. A., "TRAGASOL", Limassol Chamber of Commerce & Industry, 2016. limassolchamber.
eu/ En/ articles/ 197/ 2016/ 07/ 12/ TRAGASOL- M- … Andrews, R., "The Black Gold of Cyprus", Hampshire Mills Group Newsletter 123, 2018. Hampshiremills.
org/ Newsletters/ 123%20Winter%2018%20Newsle... History of Limassol, "The change of carob mill in the center of Limassol from then until now", All About Limassol. allaboutlimassol.
com/ en/ the- change- of- carob- mill- in- the- c… "Looking Towards Tomorrow", TREASURES 2023, p. 30. elseagency.
gr/ flipbooks/ treasures- 2023/ files/ basic- html/ p… Anassa, "The story of the carob", March 13, 2019. anassa.
com/ news- press/ the- story- of- the- carob Politis, "Carob, Cyprus' Black Gold", August 26, 2025. en.
politis. com. cy/ culture/ culture- ingredients/ 953387/ Caro... Cyprus Travels, "The Economy of Cyprus during the Ottoman Rule" (based on travelers' accounts in Cobham, 1895 and Mariti, 1791). cyprustravels.
org/ ?p=1167 Ευσταθίου, Σ. (Eustathiou, S.), "Χαρουπιά: προοπτικές καλλιέργειας στην Κύπρο" (Carob: Cultivation opportunities in Cyprus), undergraduate thesis, Cyprus University of Technology, 2017. hdl.
handle. net/ 20. 500. 14279/ 10212 Yüceer, H., Vehbi, B. O., "Adaptive reuse of carob warehouses in Northern Cyprus", Open House International, 39(4), 65–77, 2014. doi.
org/ 10. 1108/ OHI- 04- 2014- B0007 Makhzoumi, J. M., "The changing role of rural landscapes: olive and carob multi-use tree plantations in the semiarid Mediterranean", Landscape and Urban Planning, 37(1–2), 115–122, 1997. doi.
Scientific Resourcesorg/ 10. 1016/ S0169- 2046(96)00376- 3
