Carob Tree (Ceratonia siliqua) Botanical Characteristics
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is one of the most characteristic trees of the Mediterranean maquis, which belongs to the legume family (Fabaceae). It is easily distinguished from other fruit trees by its thick and cracking trunk, leathery hard and shiny leaves, small flowers without a crown blooming on the trunk and old branches, and a long, flat pod.
Read MoreHow to Dry and Store Carob Fruit?
Carob is a fruit that loses water spontaneously while ripening on the tree and can be stored for a long time under the right conditions. However, this durability depends on the correct management of humidity, temperature and storage hygiene after harvest. Pods that are inadequately dried or kept in a humid environment increase the risk of mold, loss of quality and insect damage.
Read MoreCarob in Anamur and Mersin
Mersin is one of the most dominant provinces on Turkey's carob map, along with Antalya. According to sources based on TURKSTAT data, the province ranked second in Turkey with a production of 8,776 tons in 2022. The coastline stretching from Anamur and Bozyazı in the west to Silifke and Erdemli in the east is considered among the regions with dense carob populations.
Read MoreCarob Fruit: How to Eat It, Nutritional Value, Benefits and How to Choose It
Carob fruit (harnup, a regional Turkish name for carob) is a legume pod that ripens and dries on the tree, with a sweet, fibrous pulp and hard seeds. In this guide we explain, with sources, the difference between unripe and ripe fruit, how carob fruit is eaten, its nutritional value, the differences between grafted and wild fruit, ways to use it at home, how to choose and store good fruit, and what to look for when buying.
Read MoreAlanya Carob: Traditional Product of the Region
Alanya is one of the first regions that come to mind when it comes to carob in Turkey. The region's hot and long summers, warm winters and terra rossa soils offer a suitable environment for the carob tree. This accumulation gained an official identity in 2025; The name "Alanya Carob / Alanya Carob" has been registered as a sign of origin by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Read MoreWhen and How to Harvest Carob?
Carob harvesting is a largely manual labor job that usually starts at the end of summer on the Mediterranean coast and lasts throughout autumn depending on the region. When the pods ripen on the tree and begin to dry, they are dropped from the branches with long poles and collected in nets or covers laid under the tree. Harvesting at the right time directly affects both the quality of the fruit and the next year's product.
Read MoreDried Carob Fruit Buying Guide
Dried carob is a fruit that is offered for sale by collecting and cleaning the pods that ripen and dry on the tree. It can be consumed as a snack and is also the raw material of products such as molasses, powder and broken. Therefore, both a person who buys a few kilos for consumption at home and a business that buys by tons for production should pay attention to the same basic quality marks.
Read MoreCarob Products Guide: Which Product Is For What?
Carob is one of the rare agricultural products that can produce a large number of products from a single fruit. Powder, broken, molasses and extract from the fleshy part of the fruit; flour rich in gum and protein from the seed; honey produced by bees is obtained from the flowers. This diversity can also make it difficult to choose the right product.
Read MoreWhat is Carob Flour Powder?
Carob flour or carob powder is a natural raw material obtained by drying the fruits of the Ceratonia siliqua tree under appropriate conditions, separating the seeds and grinding the fruit/pulp part.
Read MoreWhat Is Carob (Harnup)? Benefits, Nutritional Value, Products and Sales
Carob (harnup) is the sweet, fiber-rich, caffeine-free fruit of Ceratonia siliqua, a tree native to the Mediterranean. In this comprehensive, fully referenced guide we explain what carob is, where it grows, its nutritional value, what scientific studies say about its benefits, all of its products from the pod to the seed, and what to look for when buying it.
Read More