Carob is a delicious alternative to coffee or hot chocolate as it doesn’t contain caffeine. It has a definite chocolate-like flavor and is something I recommend to my clients who may be looking for a healthier alternative or who can’t tolerate coffee or chocolate. Carob is originally from the eastern Mediterranean region, Northern Africa and the western part of Asia. Ceratonia siliqua or carob is also known as locust bean gum.
Consider trying carob if you are anxious and stressed. There are a subset of those with anxiety who are more prone to the anxiety-provoking effects of coffee and some very sensitive people may even find the caffeine in chocolate to be too stimulating.
In fact a 2002 study found that carob may actually have calming effects. It is also antioxidant rich, contains the polyphenol gallic acid which has been shown to help metabolic syndrome, it has been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol, it has chemoprotective properties and helps with digestion.
Here is a recipe for a delicious beverage you can make using carob powder:
Carob Cinnamon Delight al la Trudy
¾ cup of boiling water
1 Tablespoon carob powder
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Coconut milk (full-fat) or fresh raw cream (if you can tolerate dairy)
Boil the water, add carob and cinnamon and top up with coconut milk (or cream), stir and enjoy! The carob tends to settle a bit so you’ll probably need to stir it again when you’re half way through drinking it.
If you are going to give up coffee it’s good to have some alternative beverages on hand You could try delicious herbal teas (such as licorice, lemon-ginger, and mint), coffee substitutes such as Dandy Blend, rooibos or green rooibos (herbal teas from South Africa that appears to have health benefits similar to those of green tea), or one of my favorites – carob!
I’d love to get your feedback on how you enjoyed this and any variations you’ve tried.
Enjoy!
P.S. Check out my book The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings for other calming tips.
I’m glad to know about this option as I’m not a coffee drinker away. Sounds delicious.
Sue
Please let me know what you think of it….
Trudy,
As you know (since you don’t want me drinking coffee) – I tried this recipe and it is DELICIOUS! I have a new morning drink… And one I can also have late in the day with no negative impact.
Thanks so much!
Terry
Terry
I’m SO glad you are enjoying this! the cinnamon is also great for blood sugar control and coconut has antimicrobial properties so you get even more benefits other than just quitting the coffee
Trudy
Thank you for the info about the cinnamon and coconut. I love to cook and it is such a positive affirmation when you comment that the ingredients are nutritious and why. It makes me happy that I learn from you.
Trudy – I just printed this and will be trying it out! I used to LOVE hot chocolate, but all the “mixes” have milk powder in them or are made with milk. I’ve since switched to tea – but this sounds like such a yummy alternative – thanks!!
Jennifer Bourn, Bourn Creative
Jennifer
If you LOVED hot chocolate I know you’re going to LOVE this! And since the coconut milk is dairy-free you get to use something to make it nice and creamy too. Enjoy!
Trudy
Thanks Trudy! I will try this. I just started experimenting with coffee alternatives. This morning I made myself a “Tulsi-Latte” with a little bit of honey. It was so good!!
Cristina
Carob is a great alternative but Tulsi is great too – because it’s caffeine-free and really great for stress-relief
Trudy
Tulsi Basil? Great, I have some of that growing in the garden. Great flavor!
Carob is so yummy. Glad to try this new recipe. THANKS! Katherine
Trudy,
I used to love carob when I was a kid. I’m adding carob powder to my my shopping list and I’ll give this a try.
Write on!~
Lisa
Trudy,
This sounds great. I will share this with my family.
Mitch
Trudy, this looks like a yummy recipe that is actually good for you. I used to enjoy hot chocolate mixes but there’s too much sugar and who knows what added to the commercial recipes. I like how you always offer up some great alternate products. I’ve not heard of Carob Powder before. Is it available in the regular grocery stores? Thx, Debbie
Debbie
Yes, you can find carob in the natural foods section of regular grocery stores – enjoy!
Trudy
Many thanks for this recipe, the added cinnamon tastes like a treat, I added >1tsp raw honey to mine. I’m drinking it right now as an afternoon hot drink, even though it is over 35degrees Celsius on this hot spring day.
Glad to hear this Stephen
Thanks Trudy! I got this idea from listening to you on the Summit. I used carob in some steamed raw cow’s milk, with a splash of vanilla and nutmeg. I’ve never been a coffee-drinker, but I had to cut out all sugar and cacao recently, so this drink is so tasty to me!
Wonderful Laura! yummm!
Oh my gosh that sounds so good, especially with the coconut milk! That would be a treat like hot cocoa. Mmmmm.
Hi Trudy any specific brand that you recommend for the carob powder? There seams to be roasted and raw
Thank you
I like Chatfields carob
Thank you Trudy.
I am not a coffee drinker but it sounds good I’ll try it.
I started reading you book I recently purchased and using the Amino acid for anxiety and Herpes.
Kohava
It is great – enjoy! Glad to hear you are trying the aminos too
Where do you buy Carob?
Liliana
In the grocery store in the section with tea and coffee, and sometimes in the baking section with cocoa. Health stores also have it and you can get it online too
Thank you so much! I love reading your blog! thank you !
Instead of using water, I boiled coconut water and added coconut milk as well. Very creamy 🙂
Thanks for this helpful information. I read that matcha tea commonly has a much higher lead content than regular green tea and a recommendation is only one cup a day for adults. Know anything about this?
Thanks
John
It’s not something I drink or recommend to clients but just the other day someone asked me this on facebook and Magdalena was going to ask her supplier about this. I’ll see if she can come and give us any feedback
Thanks for the recipe. It was delicious <3
Here is another way to make a very healthy Mediterranean summer drink where they cut the carob to small pieces taking the pips out. Then to prepare the sugar free drink add one litre of water to one and quarter cup of carob and leave over night -12 hours, add another half a litre of water and cook it on medium fire to bring to the boil and then let it simmer for 3 hours adding more water to maintain water level then let it cool. For maximum medical benefits put it all in Liquidiser then use muslin cloth to strain it, squeeze it hard to get every drop of good juice out. Keep it in fridge to cool. Drink and enjoy.