Palm sugar or palm jaggery is believed to be one of the healthy sugar substitutes that is available in the market today. Unlike sugar, it is unrefined and unbleached retaining all its nutrients. It has a smoky flavor and a rich aroma.
There are many kinds of palm sugar. It was originally made from the sugary sap of the Palmyra palm, the date palm or sugar date palm.
Now it is also made from the sap of the sago and coconut palms and is sold with different names. In different countries or regions, it has different names malaysia- gula melaka, indonesia- gula merah, karupatti in tamil and thati bellam in telugu.
palm sugar is the term used to refer to both Palmyra palm sugar and coconut palm sugar. Though the term is used interchangeably, both are not the same. One is derived from the sap of the Palmyra palm and other from the sap of the coconut tree.
coconut palmsugar is made from the sweet flower blossom nectar of the green coconut tree. The nectar is collected, boiled and given different shapes by pouring the mixture in the hallow bamboo molds or granulated.
It has gained a lot of popularity in the global health community as an alternate to the already existing sweeteners in the market, since it has high nutrition and low GI & is termed suitable for diabetics.
Here are the tips to identify pure palm sugar in the market. Just like the other foods even pam sugar is adulterated and sold in the market. Often the center of the cubes is filled with inexpensive white or brown sugar.
How to identify pure palm jaggery or palm sugar?
1. pure palm sugar melts or acquires moisture by itself when left open in the air for some time (If left uncovered at room temperature for some time).
2. It should not be hard, should be able to break the block of a palmsugar just with the pierce of a fork or a knife. This shows that it is not adulterated.
3. It should be dark brown in color to prove that it is minimally processed. Some brands of coconut palmsugar merely have (brown/white)sugar in the center and their exterior is coated with palmsugar.
Since pure palmsugar is expensive than brown/white sugar, they gimmick to fill the hollow part with cheaper one.This is how they look
Hello,
Thank you for the excellent advice and pictures on jaggery. We are in USA and cannot find palm sugar. Wondering if gul melaka is the way to go for this.
Hi,
Yes you can look for organic gula melaka.
Hi ma’am.. Happy to see u have shared about jaggery.., I have bought palm sugar… I have kept it in a airtight container.., I use often.., today when I open to use I saw white patches on it.., any possibilities of growing fungus on it.., can we store it in refrigerator or in freezer.., pls want suggestion..,
Hi Vatsala
Yes white patches are fungus. Yes you can store it in the refrigerator.
Next time, once you start using put the jar in the fridge. Fungus wont grow if the jaggery is untouched. But if you open the jar and begin to use it more often, fungus can grow because it gets exposed to air.
Hi Swasthi,
Thank you this information, I’ve purchased some palm jaggery which the seller said is taad gud.. but I’m not sure.. it’s very hard like a stone..and cannot be cut with a knife..and seems suggary to me..and at the end there’s some dust. Please suggest
Hi Shraddha
Usually soda is added while making jaggery. I have heard if lesser quantity is added then it will be very hard. But the hardness won’t tell us the quality. If the center is like the one shown in my last picture then it is not palm jaggery. You can also make out the flavor. The flavor of good palm jaggery is not really so good. Hope this helps.
Hi Swasti,
Hope you in good health.
what brand do you recommend for pure palm Jaggery from India?
I am from Uk.
Hi Yunoos,
I am doing good. Thanks for asking. I use whatever is available locally
Palm Sugar
sir I am intrested to buy palm sugar what is the price
I want to eat substrate of pure sugar made from sugarcane to prevent or controlled diabetes. What should I do ?
Hi Swasthi,
Could you please suggest methods to clean palm jaggery, thanks.
Where can I get palm jaggery in USA.. If any information please share
Hi PAdma
I dont think it is available, you can try coconut palm jaggery,
It is sold as unrefined coconut sugar.
Hi Good Afternoon.
I am Zain from Kerala – India (Presently in Dubai)
I am very interested in organic stuffs and while browsing I saw the coconut palm sugar blocks on your site. I love it very much. I will appreciate, if you could let me know where it is available in Dubai.
Thanks and Regards.
Hi Zain
I suppose searching it online is better. It should be available in Dubai but no idea where.
Sorry that I could not help you
It is available in KM trading.
Please post Kerala ariyunda with palm jaggery ☺
Great information, So Can I use palm sugar in place of palm jaggery? Is there an way to check if the palm sugar is unadulterated?
Thanks
Thanks for sharing such valuable information
Good. Showing Comparison of Nutritional Facts of Palm Jaggery and Sugarcane Jaggery would be more informative and useful.
Thank you Mr. Moorthy. I will try to post sometime in future. Thanks for the suggestion
Where do you buy these coconut palm sugars? I have not seen it in the indian markets. Are there particular shops that carry this?
I suppose it is not available in India yet, but this is only my guess.this is available in us and most Asian countries. You can use karupatti (date palm jaggery) if you are looking for healthy alternates to sugar and jaggery. this is available all over India, mist well know super markets sell them and even ayurvedic stores have come up with this
Good info-nice pictures..
Thanks for sharing