Carob Vs Cocoa Powder Essay

Carob is best known as an alternative to products made with cocoa. It is easily the most popular natural substitute for products from the Theobroma cacao tree, which is the tree from which cocoa beans are harvested. Carob powder is made from pods from the Ceratonia siliqua tree, which is not related to Theobroma cacao. While you should be able to find carob powder in some well-stocked grocery stores, it may not always be available or budget-friendly. If you need an emergency carob powder substitute, consider one of the easier-to-find options below. Your Best Bet: Cocoa Powder
Just as carob powder is often used in place of cocoa powder, cocoa powder can be used in place of carob as long as you keep a couple factors in mind. One is that while the two have similar appearances, carob powder does not have cocoa powder's distinctive and intense flavor. This means that if when
Consider using half the amount of cocoa powder that your recipe requires for carob powder and increasing the amount to taste. A Decent Second Choice: Unsweetened Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is another way to use products derived from the cocoa bean as a substitute for carob powder. Chocolate is cocoa powder that has had some of the cocoa solids mixed back in. In some cases, a certain amount of milk and vanilla will also be added. Like cocoa powder, dark chocolate will provide the deep brown color that you want from a carob substitute. Note that the inclusion of cocoa butter (and possibly milk) means that dark chocolate can significantly increase the calories in a dish. Use one ounce of unsweetened dark chocolate in place of every 3 tablespoons of carob powder that your recipe requires. Adjust the amounts of any other fats in the recipe to compensate for the addition of cocoa butter. In a Pinch: Instant Coffee or Espresso