Definition

Noun: 1. A chocolate substitute: A powder made from the dried, ground seeds and pods of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua). It is naturally sweet and often used as a healthier or caffeine-free alternative to cocoa or chocolate.

Usage

• As a food ingredient: "Saint-John's-bread" is used as a noun to refer to the carob powder itself, typically in the context of cooking, baking, or health foods.
  • The recipe called for saint-john's-bread instead of cocoa powder to make the cake caffeine-free.
  • She prefers to sweeten her yogurt with saint-john's-bread.

Advanced Usage

• The term "saint-john's-bread" originates from the belief that the carob pods were the "locusts" eaten by John the Baptist in the wilderness, as described in the Bible.
  • The historical name saint-john's-bread connects this ancient food to biblical stories.

Variants and Related Words

• Carob: The more common modern term for both the tree () and the powder made from its pods. "Saint-John's-bread" is a synonym specifically for the edible product.
• Carob powder: A direct synonym for "saint-john's-bread".
• Locust bean: Another name for the carob pod, which is the source of "saint-john's-bread".

Synonyms

• Carob powder
• Carob flour
• Locust bean powder

Notes

• "Saint-John's-bread" is a compound noun, typically hyphenated. It is used as a mass noun (uncountable).
• It is important to distinguish "saint-john's-bread" (the powder) from the whole, dried carob pod, which is also edible but has a different texture.

Noun

1. powder from the ground seeds and pods of the carob tree; used as a chocolate substitute