Top 10 Best Carob Powder Reviews
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Top Pick Carob Powder
Carob Powder – Is It Similar To Cocoa Powder?
You might have seen cocoa powder and even used it. Carob powder looks very much similar. Even, in taste, it is sweet like cocoa powder. What more do you wish to learn about this oil? Read on to learn more:
What is Carob Powder?
Carob powder is obtained from a carob tree that is native to the Mediterranean. The carob pods used for obtaining the powder are gathered when they are ripe. In these pods, the sweet pulp is removed. Then, the pulp is roasted and ground into a fine powder. In baking recipes, this powder is used as an alternative to cocoa powder as it has similar color and taste. The other names used for denoting carob pods include St. John’s Bread and Locust Bean. The carob tree produces leathery and brown pods that are 6 to 12 inches long with seeds that cannot be eaten. When these pods are ripe, they become brown from green color.
What Does Carob Powder Taste Like?
When talking about the taste of carob powder, it has a similar taste and flavor to chocolate. However, the mildly bitter taste that is commonly found in chocolate is not present in the carob. Also, it is a bit sweeter than chocolate as well. It is generally not consumed on its own, unlike chocolate. But, it is added to baking dishes, drinks and desserts.
How is Carob Different from Cocoa?
Carob comes from pods of the Mediterranean tree, while cocoa beans come from the cocoa trees that are native to south and central America. For creating chocolates, cocoa beans are fermented and ground into a paste, while carob is made by roasting and grinding the edible pulp from within the pods. Theobromine and caffeine present in chocolate are not present in the carob. This is why for those allergic to caffeine, carob is used as the best alternative.
Is Carob Powder Healthy?
Here are the health benefits you can expect from carob powder:
Virtually no fat content: Carob powder virtually has not fat content. If you are a person following a low-fat diet, this powder is a very good option. But, the thing to remember here is that it is high in carb and sugar content as compared to cocoa powder. So, you should take the utmost care in consumption if you are diabetic.
Low in Sodium: For anyone with high blood pressure, the diet should be low in sodium. So, carob powder can be a good option for them as is naturally low in sodium content. Even, too much sodium is not good for the heart and it can create kidney problems as well. Osteoporosis and stroke are other issues that arise due to high sodium consumption. But, carob powder is safe against all these illnesses as it is low in sodium content.
Contains Calcium but no Oxalates: You know that calcium is a mineral that ensures bone health. Even, it helps muscles, nerves and the heart to function properly. Carob powder is rich in calcium. Just a couple of tablespoons of this powder has 4 percent of the recommended daily intake of calcium.
When you take the case of cocoa powder, it contains a compound called oxalate that can bring down the ability of the body to absorb calcium. But, this substance is not present in carob powder. A diet high in oxalate content can increase the chances of kidney stones. So, carob stands the best alternative to cocoa here.
How To Cook Carob Powder?
When it comes to using carob powder in cooking, you have varied options to use it. Here are some tips on how to use this powder:
- You can add this powder to smoothies
- You can use it as a topping in ice cream or yogurt
- When you make bread or pancake batter, you can use this powder to enhance sweetness and flavor
- As against hot chocolate, you can use this powder for making a hot carob beverage
- Creamy carob pudding can make the carob powder taste better and it is a good cooking option as well.
- You can make this powder for making carob bars similar to chocolate bars you make with cocoa powder
- Also, you have the option to use it as a gelling or thickening agent. Further, it can increase the resistance of any baking dough to deformation.
- It can improve the elasticity of flour dough as well, which is again a health benefit when you make baking recipes at home.
- Further, if you want the brown color to be added to any dish, you can use it for coloring your food as well. Of course, the food should be a sweet dish as this powder will be sweet.
When you are thinking about cooking with carob powder, the thing you will have to remember is that it is one of the most crucial aspects of this flour to replace chocolate in baked products. Not just for health aspects but it is also a cost-effective solution to cocoa powder. Above all, it eliminates caffeine content. Many bakers use one-to-one carob powder to cocoa powder to save cost when they bake chocolate cakes and other dishes. The good thing about this powder is that you have the option to use it either raw or roasted.
Not just for humans, if you have pets in your home that love chocolates, you need not have to restrict them from consuming chocolates. As against cocoa powder, you can serve them with pet treats made using carob powder. The reason is that this powder is fido-friendly. It does not have high levels of theobromine. This compound in chocolates is toxic for pets. So, carob is used as an alternative to cocoa in many dog treats.
What Features Should You Consider When Buying Carob Powder?
Some features that will make your carob powder shopping the most fruitful in different aspects including health are listed below:
Organic Carob Powder: Yes, as you know, organic carob powder is safe as compared to the one made with inorganic and unsafe ingredients. So, you can expect better benefits for your family as well.
Go for Unsweetened Carob Powder: You know that too much sweetness is not good for oral health. So, even when you plan to buy carob powder to make a sweet dish, you can consider buying an unsweetened option. When you have this feature, you can adjust the sugar you add to the dish according to your taste needs.
Gluten-Free: When the carob powder is free of gluten, it can be beneficial though. Of course, you or none of your family members might be allergic to gluten. But, choosing gluten-free is healthy though as gluten is known to affect digestive health in some people.
Go for roasted carob powder: Some ingredients should be roasted before adding to any dish. Of course, you need not have to roast carob powder for all your dishes. You can use unroasted variants as well. But, the roasted powder will bring better consistency to your dishes as compared to the unroasted variant. Also, you can save time in roasting the powder when you get the already roasted variant.
Sustainable production practices: Further, it would be better to check whether the carob powder has been made from carob made using sustainable production practices. Apart from being good for health, you will gain the satisfaction of buying something healthy for the environment as well.
Quality promise: When you buy a pack of carob powder, it would be a good idea to check whether it comes with a quality promise from the manufacturer. With this assurance, you can gain better confidence that you are buying the right food for your family to get better health benefits.
Low Fat Promise: Also, when you intend to buy carob powder, it would be a good idea to check whether the seller gives a low-fat promise. Of course, the carob is naturally low in fat content. But, when you get this assurance from the manufacturer or seller, you can again ensure that the manufacturer has added nothing extra to increase taste, which in turn, increased the fat content in the powder.
How Much Does Top-Rated Carob Powder Cost?
Are you particular about buying high-end carob powder, it would be better to ensure that you are ready to pay more than $50. But, are you looking for a cheap carob powder, you can find affordable carob powder packs at less than $10. The average cost of each pack of carob powder will differ based on different factors.
Final Verdict
In many ways, carob powder is a healthy alternative to cocoa powder. Low-fat content and free of caffeine are few factors that make carob a healthy alternative to cocoa powder. To get the complete benefits of this powder, you should make sure that you buy the right option by comparing this powder and reading between the lines of each product and finally choosing the one that you feel will be a healthy option for your family.
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