Carob Juice is one of Egypt’s most popular drinks, not only during its scorching summer time but all time round. It is packed with health benefits and super refreshing. Homemade carob juice couldn’t be easier to make!

The unmerciful heat wave of the current summer, makes me beg for the Egyptian refreshing summer drinks, which I grew up enjoying.  Carob was one of those hydrating cold drinks that quenched my thirst and left me so refreshed. Carob’s multiple health benefits, makes one less guilty about the amount the sugar that sweetens the carob drink.

What is Carob

Carob pods grow on native Mediterranean carob trees. What you see in the photos are the carob pods. Carob trees are also known as Locust bean, or St. John’s bread. It grows in the Mediterranean region or in a similar climate.

In Egypt, carob is usually found in three forms: 1-Whole pods, 2-crushed pods to eat as a snack, 3-powder to dilute in water. Some levantine countries make Carob Molasses that are used in drinks and desserts.

While in the west, according to The Pruce Eats, carob is toasted and pulverized and used as a caffein-free substitute for chocolate in baking.

It is widely recommended to consume carob as it is:

• A powerful anti-oxidant
• Caffein free
• High in fiber
• Helps relieve diarrhea
• Gluten free

You can read in detail about the health benefits of carob on Healthline.com 

Additionally, it is has a refreshing taste and aroma.  Carob is known as a healthful substitute for chocolate.  It has twice the amount of calcium found in cocoa. Caron is free of migraine-triggering compound, and it is caffein- and fat-free.

Carob is ubiquitous in Middle Eastern markets and sold as whole pods, chips, molasses, or powder.  You might be pleasantly surprised that your kids turn into big fans of this exotic drink!

How to prepare the carob drink 

You need to start prepping Caron drink a day ahead, so let us go over the steps together:

Step 1

Soak carob chips in water overnight to soften.  Discard this water on the second day and set the carob aside. If the carob pods are whole, crush them into bites.

Step 3

Make the caramel. Add the white granulated sugar and the carob chips to a medium sauce pan over low heat. Keep stirring the sugar until it caramelizes. Swirl the saucepan so you make sure that the sugar evenly caramelizes.

When the sugar tun into a light amber colorel, add room temperature water to the mixture of sugar and carob and let them boil over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until the caramel crystals totally dissolve in the water. At this point turn off the heat and let the carob juice come to room temperature.

Run the juice through a fine mesh sieve fitted over a pitcher. Discard the carob bites and place the filtered carb juice in the fridge.

Step 4

Serve cold in tall glasses over ice.

Other Egyptian drinks  

You might also like:

• Iced Mint Lemonade
• Hibiscus Rose Granita 

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Egyptian Carob Cold Drink

8-10 servings

INGREDIENTS

• • 2 cups  carob chips, or whole pods crushed with a mortar and pestle
  • 1 cup white granulated sugar
  • 4 cups water

For serving

• Ice cubes

DIRECTIONS 

1. Soak the carob chips overnight to soften.  Discard the water on the second day.
2. In a heavy bottom pan, over low heat, add the sugar to the carob and let them caramelize together. Swirl the pan to avoid burning the sugar. When the sugar turn into a deep amber color, add the water gradually. let the water boil for 2-3 minutes until turn off the heat.
3.  Add cold water to the caramelized carob and let it sit for a few hours in the fridge.
4. Strain it using a fine mesh sieve and serve with cubes of ice.

NERMINE’S NOTES

• Carob chips are available on Amazon, in Middle Eastern grocery stores, and probably in some health stores.