Carob comes from the pods of the carob tree, a member of the legume family that grows along the Mediterranean Sea. The pod contains a sweet, edible pulp. Once dried and roasted, the pulp is ground into a dark brown, slightly sweet, richly flavored powder called carob powder. It is a healthy alternative to cocoa that is low in calories, contains no fat and is caffeine free. Carob is an excellent substitute for chocolate or cocoa powder in cakes, cookies, smoothies, beverages and confections. To substitute carob powder for cocoa, replace one part cocoa with 1½ to 2 parts carob by weight. To substitute for chocolate, use 3 Tbsp carob powder and 1 Tbsp water in place of each square of chocolate. Try our recipes for Carob Fruit & Nut Brownies and Soy-Carob Bread on the package of this package.