Carob trees are wonderful creatures. They demand almost zero care and their fruit and wood can be used in a wide array of products: from human food, films and medicine to animal food, firewood, cosmetics and alcoholic drinks.
Carobs have been cultivated in Cyprus since the Neolithic period (8220-3500 BC). The great amounts of carobs produced and exported from Cyprus have been an important source of income from the Frankish period on the island (1192-1489) until British colonial rule (1878-1960). For this reason carobs have been called ‘The black gold of Cyprus’. It is very possible that the inhabitants of Cyprus learned how to make the carob sweet ‘pasteli’ from the Franks who ruled Cyprus between 1192 and 1489, hence very possibly its name comes from the French word ‘pastel’.
a. For Students: If you Want to Learn More
- Carob Pastel: https://foodmuseum.cs.ucy.ac.cy/web/guest/allcivitems?p_p_id=82&p_p_action=1&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_count=3&_82_struts_action=%2Flanguage%2Fview&_82_redirect=%2Fweb%2Fguest%2Fallcivitems%2Fcivitem%2F1733&languageId=en_US
- Carob: https://www.britannica.com/plant/carob
- Living and Working in Historic Cairo: Sustainability of Commercial and Productive Activities https://issuu.com/shehayeb/docs/urhc_living-and-working-in-hc_2012_
- Yuki-tsumugi, silk fabric production technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4T-x0ObDqE&t=75s
b. Visual Sources
- Ripe carob fruit pods on the tree: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carob#/media/File:Garroves.JPG
- Carob seeds: https://www.theseedcollection.com.au/growguide/carob-seeds
- Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation Collections – Engravings, Old Photographs and Watercolours Collection https://www.boccf.org/museums-and-collections/cyprus-map-collection111/
- Carob cookies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carob#/media/File:Carob_chocolate_chip_cookies_with_coconut_and_cranberries.jpg
c. Other sources
- Anogyra carob syrup and pasteli: History, production methods and gastronomy: https://tasteandhospitality.com/2020/05/09/xaroupomelo-kai-pasteli-anogyras-istoria-methodos-paragogis-kai-gastronomia/
- Ionas, Ι. (2001) Traditional craftsmanship in Cyprus (XXXVII). Nicosia: Cyprus Research Center.
- Inventorying living heritage practices in the heart of Historic Cairo, a World Heritage Site: https://ich.unesco.org/en/news/inventorying-living-heritage-practices-in-the-heart-of-historic-cairo-a-world-heritage-site-13420
- Yuki-tsumugi: The Art of the Silk Kimono https://thefashionglobe.com/yuki-tsumugi
- Yuki-tsumugi, silk fabric production technique: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/yuki-tsumugi-silk-fabric-production-technique-00406
