Carob bean in food and feed: current status and future potentials: a critical appraisal.

Carob bean is the fruit of Ceratonia siliqua L, an evergreen sclerophyllous perennial and long-producing tree, which naturally grows on barren, rocky and dry regions of the Mediterranean basin and other parts of world, with similar climate. Deseeded carob pod (husk), although rich in water-soluble sugars (mainly sucrose), has a very low protein content and high levels of tannins (mainly condensed), which minimize the nutritional value of carob beans. The present review attempts to appraise the current status and future potentials of the carob bean in food as well as feed industry and environment upgrading.