16 June 2025

Interview about carob seeds

Nordmann News spoke with Joris Kobossen, Regional Manager at Natlog, part of Carob Ingredients, and Maria Wrogemann, an application specialist for food and nutrition in the Nordmann Food & Health Lab. The interview focused on Carob Ingredients' carob seeds – their diverse applications in the food industry and questions about the availability of this natural ingredient.

You operate several production sites in Morocco, where you manufacture three different categories of raw carob ingredients. Can you give us a brief overview?

Joris Kobossen: Roasted Carob Powder – RCP (cocoa substitute) is a roasted locust bean powder that is a natural cocoa substitute thanks to its organoleptic properties, high sugar content and cost efficiency. It can be obtained from the dried pods of the carob tree.

Locust Bean Gum (E 410) is a natural food additive known for its thickening, stabilizing properties and water-binding capacity.

VISCOGUM™ CGP is a natural, vegetable-based protein flour with a balancedmino acid profile similar to soy. It has a protein content between 40% and 50% and has emulsifying properties. We extract the flour from the seeds of the carob tree.

Joris Kobossen, Regional Manager at Natlog

What are some typical applications for carob seeds and what do you “conjure up” with them in the Nordmann application laboratory?

Maria Wrogemann: Carob seeds and the carob bean gum obtained from them are extremely versatile. Typical applications include:

Baked goods: We use carob bean gum to stabilize muffins, cakes and breads and to give them a better texture.

Dairy products: It is used in yoghurt and ice cream to achieve a creamy consistency.

Sauces and dressings: Here it serves as a thickening agent that ensures a consistent and stable texture.

Or delicious drinks such as chocolate milk. In our laboratory, we recently made “Cocoa reduced muffin” using Roasted Carob Powder (RCP). I highly recommend them. They are simply delicious (and laughs...).

What is the availability of your products?

Joris Kobossen: Our products are available year-round thanks to our efficient production and supply chains. We ensure that our carob beans and flours are produced in sufficient quantities to meet the demand of our customers worldwide. We also offer flexible delivery options to meet the specific needs of our customers.