Description
commonly known as the carob tree, is a drought-tolerant evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region and the Middle East. It belongs to the legume family (Fabaceae) and typically grows to 10–15 meters tall. The tree has thick, glossy, dark green leaves and produces small, reddish-brown flowers. Its fruit, the carob pod, is long, brown, and leathery when mature, containing sweet, edible pulp and seeds. Carob pods are widely used as a natural sweetener and chocolate substitute in food products. The seeds are also processed to produce locust bean gum, a common food additive and thickener. The carob tree thrives in poor, dry soils, making it an important species for sustainable agriculture in arid regions.
