In short
Organic carob powder 170g is América Orgánica’s carob powder, listed by a major Peruvian supermarket chain at a time when most carob powder in Peru is sold through specialist stores and producers’ own sites. It’s organic, as stated in the product name, naturally sweet and caffeine free, and comes in a small pack of about 11 servings.
Why carob powder is hard to find in Peruvian supermarkets
Some context for the whole category. In Peru, the algarrobo tree is overwhelmingly associated with algarrobina, the thick dark syrup that goes into cocktails and desserts. That’s the product Peruvian shoppers know, and it’s what supermarkets stock.
Carob powder is a different proposition: a cocoa substitute, in a country with excellent cacao of its own. As a result, the powder has largely moved to specialist stores, and most major Peruvian supermarket chains don’t carry it.
This 170 g pack is an exception.
What makes this pack different
Availability
It’s sold by a major Peruvian supermarket chain. In this category, that’s genuinely unusual.
Organic, in a small size
Most organic carob starts at 250 g or comes direct from a producer. 170 g is a low-commitment organic option.
An established Peruvian organic brand
América Orgánica is an established Peruvian organic label with distribution in mainstream retail.
Taste profile
Naturally sweet and roasted with a cocoa-toffee character: the standard carob profile, with no bitterness and no added sugar.
How to use it
Daily serving
1 tablespoon (15 g). 170 g gives about 11 servings.
Ways to use it
| Use | How |
|---|---|
| Hot drink | 15 g in hot milk, caffeine free |
| Smoothies | 15 g |
| Baking | 1:1 for cocoa, cut sugar 25% |
| Yogurt and oats | Stirred in |
| Children’s drinks | Sweet and caffeine free |
| Date balls | With dates and oats |
Where it comes from
Peru, from a Peruvian organic brand. The pack doesn’t state the species or the growing region.
Who it’s for
A good fit if you want carob from a mainstream Peruvian brand, want organic in a small size, or are trying carob for the first time.
Look elsewhere if you want a lower price per gram (larger bags work out cheaper), or a declared species, origin or published nutrition panel.
Nutrition
Reference values for carob powder, per 100 g. The producer doesn’t publish a panel, and the label on the pack may differ slightly.
| Energy | About 353 kcal |
|---|---|
| Carbohydrate | About 77 g |
| of which fiber | About 23 g |
| of which sugars | About 50 g |
| Protein | About 5 g |
| Fat | About 1.3 g |
| Calcium | About 400 mg |
| Caffeine | None |
Specifications
| Common name | Algarrobo / carob |
|---|---|
| Certification | Organic (declared in the product name) |
| Species | Not declared |
| Net weight | 170 g / 6 oz |
| Servings | About 11 × 15 g |
| Caffeine | None |
| Retail | Major Peruvian supermarket chain |
Where carob powder is sold in Peru
| Availability | |
|---|---|
| Major supermarkets | Very limited (this product) |
| Health-food stores | Moderate |
| Direct from producer | Best |
| Bulk and wholesale | Good |
| Mercado Libre | Available |
Storage
Keep it airtight, cool and dry. Carob hardens if it absorbs moisture.
Questions
Where can I buy carob powder in Peru?
Mostly from health-food stores and producers’ own sites. Supermarket availability has largely disappeared; the category is dominated by algarrobina syrup instead.
Why is carob powder hard to find in Peru?
Because Peruvians associate the algarrobo tree with algarrobina syrup, and because Peru has world-class cacao of its own, so demand for a cocoa substitute is limited.
Is organic carob worth paying more for?
Carob is a pod harvested from trees that are often wild or semi-wild and rarely intensively treated, so the practical difference is smaller than for many crops. Organic certification does confirm an audited supply chain.
How many servings in 170 g?
About 11 at a 15 g tablespoon, or 22 at a heaped teaspoon.
Why is carob used in children’s food?
It’s naturally sweet and contains no caffeine or theobromine, which is why it’s a long-standing choice for chocolate-flavored children’s food.
What’s the difference between algarrobo and algarrobina?
Algarrobo is the tree and, in powder form, its ground pod. Algarrobina is the thick dark syrup made by boiling down an extract of the pods: a completely different product from the same source.
Does carob powder have caffeine?
No, none at all. That’s the most common reason people choose it over cocoa.