GFSI-certified suppliers on Nutrada offer carob powder, kibble, locust bean gum, and syrup from Mediterranean origins. Spain and Portugal account for the majority of European carob supply. Find wholesale carob suppliers on Nutrada, filterable by form, organic certification, and MOQ.
| Value | Description |
| Botanical name | Ceratonia siliqua |
| Available forms | Powder (raw, roasted), kibble, flour, locust bean gum (E410), syrup |
| Origins | Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Cyprus |
| Certifications | EU Organic, USDA NOP, FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, HACCP, Halal |
| Common applications | Cocoa substitute, natural sweetener, thickening agent, beverage ingredient, confectionery |
| Packaging | 20 kg bags, 40 kg paper sacks, 1000 kg big bags |
| MOQ | 20kg - 1000 kg |
| Category | Cacao |
| Form/Grade | What it means for procurement | Typical application |
| Raw powder | Milled from unroasted pods, lighter color, milder flavor, higher nutrient retention | Functional beverages, health bars, smoothie mixes |
| Roasted powder | Heat-treated before milling, darker color, enhanced caramel notes, lower moisture | Cocoa replacement in bakery, confectionery, chocolate alternatives |
| Kibble | Coarse pieces of pod pulp separated from seeds during processing | Texture component in granola, energy bars, snack mixes |
| Locust bean gum (E410) | Extracted from seed endosperm, galactomannan structure acts as thickener and stabilizer | Ice cream, sauces, gluten-free bakery, pet food |
| Syrup | Concentrated aqueous extract from pod pulp, 60-75% soluble solids | Natural sweetener in beverages, marinades, desserts |
The economic value of carob processing is concentrated in locust bean gum extraction, with powder often derived from pulp remaining after seed separation.
Spain, Portugal, and Morocco together account for the majority of global carob production. According to market data, Spain processes approximately 42% of the Mediterranean carob crop, with production concentrated in Tarragona and Valencia, where harvest runs from late August through September. Portugal's Algarve region supplies organic-certified carob from wild and semi-wild trees growing on rocky slopes, where manual harvesting increases labor costs but supports organic claims due to minimal pesticide exposure.
Turkey and Cyprus contribute supply during September and October, with Turkish processors exporting locust bean gum to European food manufacturers requiring E410 compliance under EU Regulation 231/2012.
Morocco exports raw kibble and powder to Spain and Italy for secondary processing, with harvest timing dependent on altitude and coastal versus inland growing zones.
Carob powder is hygroscopic and must be stored below 60% relative humidity to prevent clumping and moisture reabsorption above the target 8-10% threshold. Suppliers ship in 25 kg multi-wall paper sacks, 40 kg bags, or 1000 kg big bags on pallets.
Buyers must verify the defect rate specification in the supplier's certificate of analysis, as pod fragments, seed shell particles, or foreign matter above 2% affect downstream processing and can require additional sieving or milling steps.
Spain, Portugal, and Cyprus hold both EU Organic and USDA NOP certification infrastructure for carob. Wild carob trees in Portugal's Algarve and Sicily qualify for organic certification when growers document absence of synthetic pesticide drift and maintain buffer zones. Dual-certified organic supply is available from Spanish and Portuguese processors, with deeper volumes from Spain. Turkish suppliers offer EU Organic powder and locust bean gum, though USDA NOP dual certification is less common from Turkish origins.
Carob is packaged in retail pouches, jars, sachets, and resealable bags for consumer brands. Locust bean gum is filled into canisters or tins for retail distribution. Private label MOQs start higher than bulk orders, typically 500 kg to 1 tonne depending on the packaging format. Buyers must specify the roast profile (light/dark) before production starts, as raw versus roasted powder requires different processing lines and cannot be adjusted mid-run.
Carob processors are concentrated in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Turkey, with Spanish manufacturers holding the largest share of locust bean gum production capacity.
Request batch-specific certificates of analysis showing moisture content, sugar profile, defect rate, and microbial limits. Nutrient profiles must confirm fiber content and verify absence of theobromine and caffeine if carob is marketed as a cocoa alternative for caffeine-sensitive consumers.
Nutrada lists GFSI-certified carob suppliers from Mediterranean origins, covering powder, kibble, locust bean gum, and syrup across conventional and organic supply. All orders are placed directly with certified suppliers, with no intermediary.
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Last updated: Mar 22, 2026
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