Ceratonia siliqua, commonly known as the
carob tree,
St John's-bread, or
locust bean (not to be confused with the
African locust bean) is a species of
flowering evergreen shrub or tree in the
pea family,
Fabaceae. It is widely cultivated for its edible pods, and as an
ornamental tree in gardens. The ripe, dried pod is often ground to carob powder, which is used to replace
cocoa powder. Carob bars, an alternative to chocolate bars, are often available in health-food stores.