The seeds of the carob tree are true pieces of gold. Why? You will find out in this article. You will also learn to recognize seeds based on their appearance and what role they play in economic use. Want to grow your own carob tree from seeds? Then you've come to the right place on this page.
What are the properties of carob seeds?
The seeds of the carob tree are hard, shiny, brown kernels measuring 8-10 mm long, 7-8 mm wide and 3-5 mm thick. They are known for their unique weight properties, which serve as the basis for the unit of weight carat, and are used to produce locust bean gum.
Features
- About 10 to 15 seeds per fruit
- Very hard
- Shiny
- Brown
- 8 to 10 mm long
- 7 to 8 mm wide
- 3 to 5 mm thick
Interesting facts
Do you actually know why diamonds are weighed in carats? The seeds of the carob tree have served as the basis for this unit of weight since ancient times. They have the property of always having the same weight with very high accuracy. This phenomenon is unique in nature. The weight difference is a maximum of 5%. This makes the seeds ideal as an essential utensil. The term karat, which originally means croissant, was finally derived through various languages. This is due to the slightly curved shape of the seeds.
Usage
Carob bean gum, a very fiber-rich, tasteless flour, is obtained from the seeds of the carob tree and has the following applications:
- As a dietary supplement
- As a complete food
- For thickening food
- In sweet dishes like pudding
- For baking
- In ice cream
- In sauces
- In candy
The gluten-free flour is also an alternative for
- Diabetics (lowers blood lipid levels)
- celiacs
- Allergy sufferers
- And people with bad cholesterol levels
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Growing a carob tree from seeds
- You can get the seeds online (€3.00 on Amazon) or in specialist shops.
- Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours.
- Prepare a seed pot with soil.
- Sow the seeds about 3 to 10 mm deep.
- The germination time is about three weeks.
- Place the growing pot in a warm, partially shaded place.
- Keep the substrate moist.
- The young carob tree will soon form a taproot.
- Pott it into a larger container after six weeks at the latest.
- Now you should put it in a sunny place.
