>  >- The pod of this plant, containing a sweet edible pulp and seeds that
yield
>  >a gum used as a stabilizer in food products. Also called algarroba.
>  >- An edible powder or flour made from the ground seeds and pods of this
>  >plant, often used as a substitute for chocolate.
>
> But is it edible raw? I have no doubt a sharp stick will open a pod.

absolutelly you don't eat the seeds that is at the origin of the word carat
to measure gold because of their consistancy in weight and hard as rock ,
but the pod it self ,it is sweet .
jean-claude