Carob Tradition in Malta and the Mediterranean Islands
The Mediterranean islands are among the places where carob has the most deep-rooted traditions. In Malta, the tree is the symbol of the rural landscape and a sign of longevity in language; In the southeast of Sicily, carob pastures are part of the cultural landscape; in Crete, it takes place in daily life with its syrup and wood; In Cyprus, it carried the island's economy as "black gold" for a while.
In this article, we discuss the carob tradition in the Mediterranean islands, especially Malta, Sicily and Crete; the place of the tree in the landscape, traditional products, conservation approaches and the common heritage between the islands based on sources.
Islands and Carob: Why Such a Strong Bond?
Most Mediterranean islands face similar challenges: limited agricultural land, dry summers, thin and stony soils, wind-free slopes. Trees that can grow and produce in these conditions have always been valuable for island economies. Carob is one of these trees.
Carob is an xerivorous tree; according to encyclopedic sources, it has adapted to 250–500 mm of annual rainfall and can withstand salt in the soil to a certain extent. Considering the island coasts open to marine influence, these characteristics help explain why the tree is so widespread on the islands. A 2024 review by Martins-Loução et al. also emphasizes that carob is compatible with dry farming and agroforestry systems, and that it can play a role in landscape restoration and biodiversity conservation.
On the islands, carob usually does not grow alone, but in association with other xeriscape trees such as olives. The changing role of olives and carob in the rural landscape as multi-purpose tree plantings in the semi-arid regions of the Mediterranean is also the subject of Makhzoumi's 1997 study.
Malta: A Landmark of Rural Landscape
Malta is one of the islands where carob is most culturally visible. According to a study presented by Charles F. Grech at the International Carob Symposium in 1996, carob is the most common tree in the Maltese Islands and is considered an indicator of how wooded the islands are. The tree is mostly found on the island of Malta, in dense clusters and often mixed with olive trees; these clusters form semi-natural woodlands that perform important ecological functions.
It is controversial when the tree came to Malta. In the publication of Malta Friends of the Earth, the carob is described as an "archaeophyte" brought to the island in antiquity. Victor Falzon of BirdLife Malta writes that it is unclear whether the tree is native or was brought back long ago, perhaps in Roman times.
Carob in Malta has a different appearance than in other parts of the Mediterranean. According to Ian Mifsud's 2001 article, the tree can grow up to 20 meters in the Mediterranean mainland, while in Malta it rarely exceeds 6 meters and usually develops as a large shrub. Grech also states that the tree remains a low, wind-shaped shrub in wind-exposed areas, and can reach up to 10 meters in sheltered valleys.
The tree's place in Maltese culture is so strong that many Maltese mistake carob for the country's national tree; however, the national tree is a different species. With its low and wide branches, the carob is a classic rural tree that Maltese children climb and build tree houses.
Traditional Uses in Malta
According to Grech's study, in Malta, carob pods were traditionally used as animal feed, turned into great lent sweets, the leaf litter was used as potting soil, and the wood was used as firewood.
- Caramel tal-ħarrub: Carob candies eaten during Lent and Good Friday. Sources refer to these candies as the only "sweets" allowed during Lent.
- Ġulepp tal-ħarrub: Homemade carob syrup with a consistency similar to honey. It is traditionally mixed with hot water and drunk for sore throats and colds.
- Honey: According to BirdLife Malta, carob flowers are one of the main sources of Maltese honey.
- Animal feed: Pods have traditionally been fed to horses and cattle.
The story of the caramel tal-ħarrub also shows the cultural connection between the islands. According to an article in GuideMeMalta, these confections are an adaptation of an old Sicilian recipe (caramelle di carrube) made from equal parts carob and honey.
The autumn flowers of the tree are also easily spotted in Malta. According to the Malta Friends of the Earth, carob trees are usually male or female; male trees emit a distinct scent in autumn and can therefore be recognized from afar. The tree is an important food source for insects after the dry summer season.
Conservation, Symbolic Meaning and Old Age Trees in Malta
Grech's 1996 study provides an interesting insight into the legal status of carob in Malta: The tree was strictly protected in the period between the two world wars, but was not under legal protection at the time of writing. The study also mentions regulatory proposals to include carob among the protected native species and the planning policy that supports the protection of carob in public spaces. According to the same study, farmers' negative attitudes towards trees that do not bear fruit pose a threat to carob.
Grech also states that carob is a symbol of longevity in the Maltese language. This symbolic meaning finds a tangible response with the old trees on the island. One of Malta's most famous trees is the tree known as "Il-Ħarruba Xwejħa" (Old Carob), located along the Xemxija Heritage Trail on the old Roman road in Xemxija. The trunk circumference of this tree is given as 7.25 meters and is believed to be over a thousand years old. This age is an estimate; sources report this as a common acceptance, not as a definitive measurement result.
Carob has also found a place in Maltese literature. In the poem "Quo Vadis" by the famous Maltese poet Ruzar Briffa, which is taught in schools, the carob tree is used as a symbol of the flow of human life.
Sicily: Carob Landscape of Ragusa and Modica
In encyclopedic sources, Italy is counted among the leading producers of carob after Spain. One of the regions in the country where carob is most culturally visible is the southeast of Sicily. In Ragusa, Modica and its surroundings, carob trees form a cultural landscape unique to the region, with pastures and fields.
This landscape has also been the subject of academic studies. Venturi et al.'s study, published in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation in 2022, examines the multifunctional role of linear landscape elements in traditional silvopastoral (tree-bed) systems, taking carob pastures in Ragusa as an example. Abbate et al.'s 2023 study examines how the local community in Modica and Rosolini perceives agrobiodiversity as cultural heritage and the role of carob in determining the identity of this rural landscape.
The common message of these studies is this: Carob in Sicily is not only an agricultural product, but also a landscape element that forms the identity of the region. Tree; It provides shelter for animals with its shade, feed and income with its fruit, and a sense of belonging to the people of the region with its existence.
Sicily's place in carob cuisine should not be forgotten. As mentioned above, Malta's caramel tal-ħarrub is adapted from the caramelle di carrube tradition in Sicily. This exchange of recipes between the two islands is a good example of the common culinary culture of the Mediterranean.
Crete: Syrup and Hearth Fire
Carob is also a part of daily life on Crete, the largest island of Greece. Encyclopedic sources state that carob syrup is produced in Crete and that carob wood is often used as firewood, sometimes even preferred to oak and olive wood.
The use of both the names "charoupi," which originates from Arabic, and "xylokerato," which means "horn," for carob in Greek, serves as a reminder that the island carries both Eastern Mediterranean and Ancient Greek heritage. As detailed and sourced information about carob culture in Crete is limited, we are content to cite only verifiable uses here.
Cyprus: The Island of Black Gold
When talking about the carob tradition on the Mediterranean islands, it is impossible not to mention Cyprus. According to sources, from the 1890s to the 1960s, carob was widely grown for export in Cyprus; about 50,000 tons of products were taken annually from about two million trees. The product was called "black gold" because of the foreign currency it brought to the island.
Carob syrup (haroupomelo) and the "pasteli" dessert made with this syrup have an important place in Cypriot cuisine. In the villages, carob is ground, kept in cold water in powder baskets and syrup is obtained by boiling the filtered sugar water. Carob warehouses and port trade in Cyprus are the subject of a separate article.
Common Heritage Between Islands
Speaking different languages and having different histories, these islands share surprisingly similar traditions when it comes to carob:
| Island | Local name | Featured traditions |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | Ħarruba | Lent nap, cough syrup, honey, old trees |
| Sicily | Carrubo / carruba | Carob pastures, cultural landscape, carob confectionery |
| Crete | Charoupi, xylokerato | Syrup, firewood |
| Cyprus | Charoupi | "Black gold", export, syrup and pastel |
These commonalities show that carob is a part of the common cultural texture of the Mediterranean. The carob molasses tradition on the Mediterranean coast of Anatolia is a natural extension of this texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the name of carob in Malta?
In Maltese, carob is called "ħarruba" and the tree is called "siġra tal-ħarrub".
What is caramel tal-ħarrub?
It is the traditional carob confectionery eaten during Lent in Malta; according to sources, it is adapted from an ancient Sicilian recipe.
Where is the thousand-year-old carob tree in Malta?
It is located on the old Roman road in Xemxija, along the Xemxija Heritage Trail. The tree is believed to be over a thousand years old; this age is based on an estimate, not an exact measurement.
Where does carob grow the most in Sicily?
The area around Ragusa and Modica in the southeast of the island is known for its carob landscape.
The Shared Heritage of the Mediterranean with Carob Türkiye
Malta's carruba, Sicily's carrubo, Crete's xylokerato, and Anatolia's carob are different names for the same tree. This tree has provided Mediterranean people with food, income, and cultural identity for centuries.
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.
Domestic resources
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