Carob in the Years of War and Famine
Carob has been both animal feed and a food used by people in difficult times for centuries in the Mediterranean basin. This fruit, which can bear fruit even in dry years, can be stored for a long time when dried, and is naturally sweet; It has become one of the means of survival during the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent famine years, in besieged Malta during the Second World War and in many rural areas of the Mediterranean.
In this article, we discuss the role of carob in times of war and famine, the features that make this role possible, and how the perception of "the food of the poor" has changed over time, based on sources.
"The Fruit of Hard Times": Carob and Famine Memory
In many regions of the Mediterranean, carob is a fruit that is associated with difficult years rather than years of abundance. The reason for this is simple: During periods when grain harvests fell, imports were cut or food was rationed, the carob tree continued to bear fruit most of the time.
A recent compilation study on Mediterranean carob also draws attention to this memory. In a study by Martins-Loução et al., published in 2024, it is stated that carob has been used throughout history as a food consumed "when there is nothing else to eat" and is therefore associated with difficulty. The same study also emphasizes that the tree has turned into a symbol of resilience over time.
Encyclopedic sources also report that carob pods were used as famine food in the Mediterranean basin, for example in the south of Portugal and northwest of Morocco. The title of the chapter by Daphni and Khatib in a book devoted to the cultural value of trees describes carob as "blessed and cursed tree"; this statement summarizes well the dual perception of the tree: abundance and survival on the one hand, poverty and despair on the other.
Characteristics of a Survival Food
It is no coincidence that carob stands out during periods of famine. Some features of the tree and fruit make it valuable in difficult conditions:
- Drought resistance: Carob is an xerivorous tree and has adapted to regions with low rainfall.
- Storability: Dried fruit can be stored under suitable conditions for a long time without spoiling.
- Natural sweetness: The pulp is rich in natural sugars; it functions as a sweetener during periods when sugar is not available.
- Versatile use: The same product can be used in both human and animal nutrition.
- Ease of processing: It can be chewed raw, ground into flour, and roasted to make beverages.
According to encyclopedic sources, carob is an xeriscape tree that has adapted to an annual rainfall of 250-500 mm. Martins-Loução et al. state that the tree can survive and produce with only 250 mm of rainfall. In the Turkish press, it is emphasized that the carob tree is highly resistant to drought and harsh climatic conditions. The fact that carob can produce even in years when grains are damaged by drought has made it a natural insurance against famine.
Carob in the Spanish Civil War
Spain is one of the countries where carob is grown the most, and this fruit, known as "algarroba" in Spanish and "garrofa" in Catalan, has a special place in the memory of hunger in the country's recent history.
The document titled "Confites y caramelos: Carestías, racionamiento y productos vedados" (Confectionery and butterscotch: Famine, rationing and prohibited products) prepared by the Málaga Provincial Historical Archive of the Andalusian Regional Government strikingly summarizes the situation during the war years. According to the document, the already existing problems of poor harvests and high prices were aggravated by the war, and in some towns the famine became so severe that people had to resort to "consuming potato peelings and carob".
This expression shows that carob was primarily seen as animal feed in normal times, but became a part of human nutrition under war conditions. The fact that it is mentioned in the same sentence as potato peel also reveals what kind of "last resort" carob was perceived as at that time.
Post-War "Hunger Years"
Hunger in Spain did not end with the civil war that ended in 1939. The post-war period saw a period of severe famine, which the Spanish referred to as "los años del hambre" (the years of hunger). According to the Málaga archival document, rationing was introduced throughout the country a month after the end of the war, and a Commissariat of Supply and Transport was established in 1939 to control distribution; despite this, the black market (estraperlo) remained widespread.
Historian Miguel Ángel del Arco Blanco estimates that approximately 200,000 people died of starvation in Spain between 1939 and 1942, based on excess mortality data. The book "Franco's Famine", edited by del Arco Blanco and Peter Anderson, also deals with this period comprehensively. In an article published in The Conversation, it is stated that the most severe years of hunger were 1939-1942 and 1946, and that approximately 200,000 people died of starvation directly or indirectly between 1939-1944. These figures are estimates of historians and are given in different studies at different period intervals.
During this period, carob was also used as a substitute for products that could not be found:
- Instead of chocolate: According to the article in The Conversation, women used carob "chocolate" instead of chocolate.
- Coffee substitute: Among the substitute products of the post-war period is "coffee" made from roasted acorns, barley, chicory and carob.
It is important to remember that carob coffee, which is popular as a caffeine-free alternative today, and carob powder, which is used instead of cocoa, were not a choice but a necessity in those years, in order to understand the historical background of these products.
Malta: An Island Under Siege
Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean, experienced a prolonged siege and heavy bombardment during the Second World War. It became extremely difficult to deliver food to the island. In these conditions, carob again came to the fore.
In his study in the archives of the University of Malta and presented at the Third International Carob Symposium in Portugal in 1996, Charles F. Grech states that carob pods in Malta were traditionally used in animal feed and fasting desserts, but gained high market value during periods of food shortage such as the Second World War. Encyclopedic sources also report that in Malta, fava beans were mainly animal feed, but in times of famine or war, they became part of the diet of many people.
In an article published by Friends of the Earth Malta, referring to the memoirs of Maltese writer Guido Lanfranco, it is stated that food was so scarce during the Second World War that a carob seller sold the pods one by one. The fact that a product that is sold in sacks and fed to animals in normal times is sold with each is a powerful detail that explains the extent of the famine.
The Invisible Industry of War: Carob Gum
Carob played a role not only as a food but also as an industrial raw material during the war years. According to the Hampshire Mills Group publication describing the carob industry in Cyprus, the natural gum obtained from the endosperm of the kernel was used in food, cosmetics, paper, photographic film and dyeing; according to the article, this gum was also used in the production of parachutes during the Second World War.
This information shows that carob has two different faces in the war economy. On the one hand, it is a food used by the people in their fight against hunger, and on the other hand, it is a raw material needed by the industry. We discuss the non-food uses of the carob gum in a separate article.
From "Food of the Poor" to a Valuable Raw Material
The traces left by the years of war and famine affected the perception of carob for a long time. For generations experiencing the period of hunger, carob was a food that reminded of difficult times.
However, this perception has changed over time. Encyclopedic sources state that carob powder gained popularity as a cocoa substitute, especially during the natural food trend in the 1970s. Today, carob; It is seen as one of the valuable raw materials of the food industry with its flour, molasses, gum and extract.
The title of Martins-Loução et al.'s study summarizes this transformation: "Carob: A Mediterranean Resource for the Future". The tree, which was associated with scarcity in the past, is now considered one of the candidates for resilient agriculture in the face of climate change and water scarcity.
Lesson from Past to Present: Durable Food Sources
The story of carob during the years of war and famine still contains a meaningful lesson in terms of food security today. Plants that are drought-tolerant, capable of producing crops with little input, and can be stored for long periods of time can help communities survive in unexpected crises.
This does not mean that carob alone is a solution. However, in a diversified agricultural system, the presence of trees that can produce in years when main crops are damaged can be seen as a factor that increases the resilience of rural communities. In this respect, the old carob trees of the Mediterranean are not only a historical heritage but also a reminder of the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was carob used as famine food?
It has become a food used in periods when grains and other foods are not available because it is drought tolerant, can be stored for a long time when dried, and is naturally sweet.
Was carob defeated in the Spanish Civil War?
Yes. According to the document of the Málaga Provincial Historical Archive, during the war years, people in some towns had to consume potato peelings and carob.
What is the relationship of carob to war in Malta?
During the food shortage in the Second World War, carob pods gained high value, and according to the memories conveyed, the pods were sold individually.
Is carob coffee from the war era?
Roasting carob and using it as a substitute for coffee is considered among the substitute products of the post-war period in Spain; however, today carob coffee is consumed as a choice.
The Resilient Legacy of Carob with Carob Türkiye
Carob was a silent friend that Mediterranean people turned to in difficult times. The same fruit today; With its powder, cracks, seeds and extracts, it has turned into a raw material preferred by the food industry and consumers interested in healthy nutrition.
At Carob Türkiye, we supply carob fruit, crumbs, flour/powder, seeds, and extracts. Our Products Our Products You can review it on the page, for the general properties of carob What is Carob? You can read our article. For your wholesale and export requests Contact Now You can contact us on our page.
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