Page 33 - Annual Magazine 2018

NATURE | BLACK GOLD

GOLD
LOOKING FOR

around

THE RESORT

NUMBERS
Around 4000 carob
trees can be found at
Aphrodite Hills Resort.
C

CAROB – THE BLACK GOLD OF CYPRUS wilderness, and to this day they are sometimes called “St. John’s Bread”.
The carob tree is native to the Mediterranean and has been cultivated It was under a carob tree near Salamis in Cyprus, that the body of St.
for 4000 years. Its Latin name, “Ceratonia Siliqua”, is derived from the Barnabas, Patron Saint of the Church in Cyprus was found in AD 477.
Greek “Keration” meaning horn – as per the shape of the tree’s pod.
Since ancient times in Greece and Egypt, carob has been used as food GOLDEN LOCAL FLAVOURS
and fuel. The seeds from the carob are consistent in size and weight Carob powder is higher in natural sugars, fibre and iron content than
and are believed to have been the original gauge for the “carat” used by cocoa and has become a popular chocolate substitute. Carob syrup is
jewellers. Carobs were known as the “black gold of Cyprus” and used used as sweetener in cakes and biscuits and may be blended with milk
to be a major agricultural export product. Around 4000 carob trees can or ice cream to give flavour. Carob syrup helps improve the function
be found at Aphrodite Hills Resort. of the stomach. Farmers dissolved carob syrup in water as a refreshing
energy drink as well.
BACK IN TIME
Cyprus Carob trees have been grown in Cyprus and countries bordering TRY PASTELLI
the Mediterranean since biblical times. It is said that they were the A Cyprus delight and healthy snack made with peanuts, carob syrup
main source of food for St. John the Baptist during his forty days in the and sesame seeds.
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Aphrodite Hills Resort “European Golf Resort of the Year 2018”