CHIVA VUELVE A SER RECONOCIDA POR ATESORAR EL MEJOR ALGARROBO DE ESPAÑA
https://www.chiva.es/2025-04-04/chiva-vuelve-ser-reconocida-atesorar-mejor-algarrobo-espana #Carob #Algarrobo #Espana
Best souvenir from the EFI Mediterranean Network Forum was a small jar of carob syrup from Lebanon, given to me by the head of a network of 250 growers there looking for new markets.
Carob grows in Albania, but so far as I know they have no production nor do they import it from their neighbors. So this is truly "black gold" for me!
I wish they'd had a market at the conference so I could have bought more. #Carob
I should have scheduled more days of rest after this conference, but the high price of lodging, plus worrying that Easter holidays would throw a wrench in travel encouraged me to get moving faster.
I'm wondering where I can get ahold of Es Garrover de Mallorca products locally, without having to mail order...
Last day of the conference and of the carob workshop. We were led out of the auditorium and to a theatrical space outside by a duo of Valencian musicians, one playing a double reed instrument made of carob wood.
The best thing about this conference/workshop is it was largely about carob, but the second best thing is that it was interdisciplinary in many ways.
I gotta get in bed since tomorrow the conference venue changes again and I have an hour commute to get to it.
This is the prize-winning carob tree. The guide says it's at least 350 years old but could be as old as 500.
Carob is a tough as hell tree. Beautiful and underappreciated. #Carob #Horticulture #Spain #ThickTrunkThursday
I'm looking forward to taking part in the EFI Mediterranean Network Forum 2026 in Valencia, a space to connect, learn, and exchange knowledge and action across the Mediterranean region. I'm especially looking forward to the #Carob Workshop, which will get scientists, carob growers, carob processors & more together.
(I needed to "amend" my conference bio photo here...)
More about the event and you can register here:
https://efi.int/efimed-network-forum-2026
A carob farmer kindly let me know about this European Forest Institute event "Carob Days".
They have a student rate, but as I'm not currently enrolled I have to pay the full whack if I want to attend...
https://efi.int/efimed-network-forum-2026/carob-days #Horticulture #Agriculture #Carob #PlantScience #Science #Spain
Carob syrup is sometimes called "carob molasses" in products exported from the Middle East.
When things like Google Images came on the scene, people just started grabbing images without factchecking (or licensing or giving credit). Here's a YouTube video about molasses, which is a byproduct of cane sugar production, which shows carob pods.
It goes on to talk about the Boston Molasses Flood, so it's certain this was not meant to be about #Carob
Megan Lynch (she/her)
Morpheus Being