Proverbs, Idioms and Folk Beliefs About Carob
Carob has also left its mark on folk culture, as it is a tree that has accompanied the daily life of Mediterranean people for centuries. Carob, which takes its name from the shape of the fruit in Turkish; It has been the subject of the phrase "two dirhams and one seed", carob idioms and riddles living in the Turkish Cypriot dialect, a legend connected to Lokman Hekim, beliefs in folk medicine and harvest festivals.
In this article, we discuss the place of carob in Turkish folk culture, the most well-known myth, common beliefs among the people and how these beliefs should be approached scientifically. We will also see how carob has turned into a common symbol with examples from neighboring Mediterranean cultures.
Carob in Folk Culture: A Symbol Beyond a Tree
In order for a plant to enter folk culture, it must establish a long and close relationship with people. Carob has maintained this relationship on the Mediterranean coast for thousands of years. The tree has touched many areas of village life with its shade, fruit, wood and seed: the feed of the animals, the dessert of the children, the molasses of the house, the fuel of the hearth and even the scales of the jeweler.
Such a widespread use has brought with it myths, beliefs and speech patterns. However, a distinction should be made here: While some information is recorded in written sources, some live only in oral culture and vary from region to region. In this article, we only include examples that we can verify in written sources. We did not come across a common proverb in Turkey Turkish that directly mentions carob in the sources we scanned; on the other hand, idioms, beliefs and riddles related to carob in Turkish Cypriot folk culture were compiled in a folklore study.
The name itself is a folk parable
The first trace of carob in folk culture is its name itself. The name "carob" is a folk designation that emerged by comparing the curved and dark colored pod to the carob. Such analogous names are cultural records that show how plants are perceived in daily life.
In many regions on the Mediterranean coast, the name "carob" continues to live. As emphasized in the press, carob is known as "carob" in Anatolia. This local name was also officially recorded as "Alanya Carob" in the geographical indication registration of carob grown in Alanya. The origin of the names What is Carob? In addition to our article, we also discussed it in our article dedicated to the origin of the name.
"Two Dirhams One Core" and Measure Memory
The most well-known idiom associated with carob in Turkish is "two dirhams and one seed". In an article by Zülfü Livaneli dated 1997, it is explained that the idiom is used for people who dress and adorn themselves more than usual, and its origin is based on the use of carob seeds, whose weight does not change much as they dry, as a weighing unit. According to a common narrative, when a jeweler sells a two-dirham stone to a good customer, he adds another carob seed to the scale, and thus the customer would buy a stone slightly heavier than two dirhams (Açıkalın, December 2024). We do not give numbers here as sources give different figures on how many seeds a dirham corresponds to. The relationship of the idiom with carat measure What is Carob Seed? We do not repeat it here, as we have examined it in detail in our article.
The very existence of this idiom is enough to explain the place of carob in Turkish culture: A tiny seed has become a symbol of elegance and care in language.
Carob Idioms and Riddles in Turkish Cypriot Folk Culture
One of the places where carob leaves the richest mark on the language is Cyprus. Karadağ and Aylanç's (2020) study, published in the journal Milli Folklor and based on interviews with source persons between 2014 and 2018, records the following idioms related to carob in the Turkish Cypriot dialect:
- "Harnıb yedirmeg": To deceive someone with worthless food or work.
- "Daştan harnıba": For a very close place; It is also said to the one who says that he returned tired from a short way.
- "Olive tree under harnıb aramag": To undertake a job without sufficient knowledge.
- "Neither carved nor hammered like carbinic wood": For a crude, malleable, useless person.
The same study also cites the phrase "Chew a check of carob for a dirham of honey", which is associated with the Nasreddin Hodja joke and is still used. Carob also appears in riddles: "Snow does not stand on a crooked hornbeam" and "I have a tree, it does not bloom, it bears its fruit from its trunk" are two of them. The study also includes poems that use carob molasses as an image of sweetness, marriage and social status. The fact that carob is referred to as "black gold" among the people on the island is also recorded in the same study.
Lokman Hekim and the Legend of Carob
One of the most interesting legends told about carob in Turkey is attributed to Lokman Hekim, the legendary name of folk medicine. According to an article published in Sabah newspaper, Lokman Hekim sees a place covered with carob trees while descending from the Taurus Mountains to the Mediterranean. He returns, thinking that the people living here will not need him.
The message of the myth is clear: Where carob is abundant, there is no need for a physician. This narrative is a good example of the value that the public attaches to carob. It is worth remembering that similar legends are also told for different plants; such narratives reflect the reputation of the plant in the eyes of the public, not a scientific verdict.
Carob in Folk Medicine: Beliefs and Science
Carob and carob molasses are among the products believed to be good for many ailments among the people in Anatolia. An ethnobotanical study conducted with 45 source people in Alanya and Gazipaşa documents that molasses is seen as the most common folk remedy in the region: Molasses or fruit tea is used every morning on an empty stomach as a "blood builder", fruit, molasses and "buynuz juice" are used against cough, and the juice of the fruit soaked in water at night is used against diarrhea; molasses is applied to mouth sores. In the same study, it was also noted that fresh green fruit was applied to nails like nail polish (Yıldırım and Kargıoğlu, 2015). The following beliefs are frequently encountered in the press:
- Consumption of carob molasses for cough and throat ailments in winter
- Seeing molasses as a "blood-former" for anemia
- Considering carob beneficial for the digestive system
- Seen as a healthier alternative to chocolate
In Cyprus, it is believed that pounded carob takes the poison when it is tied to the bite of a snake or scorpion; carob incense is made in colds. According to the same study, there is a tradition of burning carob on the doorstep in Nevşehir to keep evil away from the newborn baby (Karadağ and Aylanç, 2020). Similar beliefs are seen on other coasts of the Mediterranean. In Malta, the syrup made from carob and called "ġulepp tal-ħarrub" is traditionally used against cough and sore throat. Publications of nature conservation organizations in Malta also report that this syrup is believed to soothe the throat.
How should we approach these beliefs? Carob is a fruit that has been the subject of scientific studies in terms of dietary fiber and polyphenols; some studies show that certain components may be associated with health. However, most of the claims circulating among the public have not been confirmed by controlled clinical studies. Folk beliefs are valuable as a cultural heritage, but they are not a substitute for consulting a physician in health problems. For research on the nutritional value of carob and health What is D-Pinitol in Carob? You can take a look at our article.
Religious Narratives and Faith-Based Names
Carob has also found a place in different faith traditions of the Mediterranean. According to a common interpretation in the Christian tradition, the "locusts" that John the Baptist ate in the desert are actually carob pods; the tree is called "St. John's bread" in English and "Johannisbrot" in German. In Jewish tradition, dried carob is traditionally eaten during the Tu BiShvat holiday; on the other hand, in rabbinic literature, it is reported that carob is seen as a low-status food and a suitable feed for animals.
A book chapter by Daphni and Khatib describes carob as a "blessed and cursed tree". This duality also has its counterpart in folk beliefs: According to Yıldırım and Kargıoğlu (2015), it was believed that sitting under or living near a tree in Israel and sleeping under it in Palestine brought bad luck. We discuss carob in religious traditions in a separate article.
Examples of Folk Culture from Mediterranean Neighbors
The place of carob in folk culture is not unique to Anatolia. Similar meanings have been attributed to the tree on different coasts of the Mediterranean:
- Malta: According to Charles F. Grech's 1996 study, carob is a symbol of longevity in Maltese. In the poem "Quo Vadis" by the Maltese poet Ruzar Briffa, which is taught in schools, the carob tree is used as a symbol of the flow of human life.
- Malta: Carob confectionery called "caramel tal-ħarrub" is traditionally referred to as the only dessert allowed to be eaten during Lent.
- Palestine: The title of Quiquivix's 2013 study indicates that the carob tree once functioned as a land boundary.
These examples show that carob is similarly associated with the themes of "resilience, longevity, and abundance in difficult times" in different languages and beliefs.
Patience, Longevity, and Abundance: The Symbolic Meanings of the Tree
The biological characteristics of the carob tree coincide with the symbolic meanings attributed to it. The tree is long-lived and highly resistant to drought. The fact that a carob tree in the Xemxija region of Malta is believed to be over a thousand years old shows how these trees are seen as beings that "resist time" in the memory of society.
Carob is also a tree that requires patience. According to the news regarding the investor guide of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry dated 2020, the project life for a sample carob orchard is foreseen as 45 years. The fact that a separate title deed was given to the carob tree in Cyprus during the Ottoman period (Karadağ and Aylanç, 2020) also shows that the tree was seen as an asset passed down from generation to generation.
Harvest Festivals: A Living Tradition
Folk culture is not just a thing of the past; it continues to live in new forms. The Carob Harvest Festival held in Alanya in 2025 in the Obaalacami District is a good example of this. At the festival, the geographical indication registration certificate was presented to the producers, the harvest was carried out and the traditional molasses production was exhibited.
In another ceremony held in the same year, the Alanya District Governor emphasized that geographical indication registration is critical not only in terms of production but also in terms of transferring cultural heritage to future generations. The distribution of thousands of carob saplings to producers during ceremonies also shows that the tree is seen as a value "planted for the future".
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most well-known idiom about carob?
The most well-known idiom in Turkish is "two dirhams and one core". The idiom is related to old weight measurements and is used for elegantly dressed people.
Are there other idioms about carob?
In the Turkish Cypriot dialect, idioms such as "harnıb yedirmeg" (to deceive with something worthless) and "daştan harnıba" (very close) have been recorded in folklore studies.
What is the legend of carob with Lokman Hekim?
According to the legend conveyed, when Lokman Hekim saw a place covered with carob trees, he thought that the people living here would not need him, and returned.
Are the uses of carob in folk medicine scientifically proven?
Most of the claims among the public have not been confirmed by controlled clinical studies. Although some of its components are the subject of scientific research, carob is not a substitute for treatment.
Keep Carob Culture Alive with Carob Türkiye
Carob; It is a part of the common cultural heritage of the Mediterranean, living in idioms, legends and festivals. Today's equivalent of this heritage is correctly produced and correctly processed carob products.
At Carob Türkiye, we supply carob fruit, crumbs, flour/powder, seeds, and extracts. Our Products Our Products page, for traditional molasses culture What is Carob Molasses and How is it Made? You can read our article. For your wholesale and export requests Contact Now You can contact us on our page.
This content is for informational purposes only; it is not a substitute for medical advice.
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