Carob

The Alfarrobeira, as it is called in Portuguese, is to be found all over the Algarve. The fruits, Alfarroba, are harvested in autumn when they have become black, by being beaten with a stick from the tree. They will be stored for 1 - 2 years until they are reused for example in the food, cosmetic, and textile industries. A distinction is made between the pulp and the seeds. The pulp contains sugar and is roasted and grinded into flour. In many "Pastelerias" in the Algarve you will find delicious products made from carob flour. The cores are used in the food industry as a stabilizer and a binder. The seeds, carob, always have a weight of 0.2 grams and were formerly used to weigh diamonds, therefore the name carats.