Candies, carob, unsweetened
Whole food · Sweets
Photo: Wikipedia
Unsweetened carob candy is a dense, fudgy confection with a deep, earthy-sweet flavor and a smooth, slightly waxy texture. Unlike chocolate, it's naturally caffeine-free and offers a unique, malty profile. Nutritionally, it's a high-energy treat with a significant fat content from its cocoa butter-like carob fat.
Calorie split: 6% protein · 42% carbs · 52% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it as a chocolate alternative for its distinct, comforting sweetness and smooth melt-in-the-mouth texture. It's cherished in Mediterranean and health-food cultures as a unique, nostalgic treat.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high sugar (34g) and fat (31g) content can cause blood-sugar spikes and is calorie-dense. Those monitoring blood sugar or calorie intake should practice strict portion control. Pairing a small piece with a handful of nuts or a source of protein can help blunt the glycemic response.
Key benefits
- Naturally caffeine-free and theobromine-free.
- Good source of dietary fiber (3.8g per 100g).
- Contains calcium, potassium, and iron.
- Provides a quick energy boost from carbohydrates.
- Naturally sweet flavor reduces need for added sugars.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Carob pods were historically used as a unit of weight for gemstones and precious metals; the word 'carat' is derived from the Greek word for carob, 'keration'.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 1.5 g |
| Energy | 540 kcal |
| Energy | 2259 kj |
| Protein | 8.2 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 31.4 g |
| Ash | 2.7 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 56.3 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 3.8 g |
| Total Sugars | 34.1 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 303 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.3 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 36.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 126 mg |
| Potassium, K | 633 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 107 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 3.5 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.18 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.14 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 5.2 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.50 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.10 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.18 mg |
| Niacin | 1.0 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.75 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.13 mg |
| Folate, total | 21.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 21.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 21.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 19.0 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.28 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 1.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 5.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 10.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 1.6 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 7.7 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 29.0 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.05 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.82 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 1.0 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 17.6 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 6.3 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 2.5 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.63 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.48 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.48 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.29 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.26 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 1.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Candies, honey-combed, with peanut butter — USDA does not publish this profile for Candies.
| Tryptophan | 0.09 g |
| Threonine | 0.21 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.24 g |
| Leucine | 0.61 g |
| Lysine | 0.27 g |
| Methionine | 0.10 g |
| Cystine | 0.09 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.47 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.33 g |
| Valine | 0.31 g |
| Arginine | 1.1 g |
| Histidine | 0.22 g |
| Alanine | 0.36 g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.2 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.0 g |
| Glycine | 0.56 g |
| Proline | 0.55 g |
| Serine | 0.58 g |
FAQ
Is carob candy the same as chocolate?
No. Carob comes from the pod of the carob tree, while chocolate comes from cacao beans. Carob is naturally sweeter, caffeine-free, and has a different flavor profile.
Why is unsweetened carob candy still high in sugar?
The 'unsweetened' label means no *added* sugar. The 34g of sugar per 100g comes from the natural sugars present in the carob pod itself and any other sweet ingredients like fruit purees.
Can I use unsweetened carob candy as a direct 1:1 substitute for baking chocolate?
Not directly. Unsweetened carob candy is a finished confection with sugar and fat. For baking, use carob powder or unsweetened carob baking chips, which are formulated for that purpose.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 5.40 kcal/g · 6% calories from protein · 3.8 g fiber · 34.1 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.17 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.