Palm sugar

Palm sugar ( also outdated Jagara or Jagre ) is a type of sugar that is obtained by boiling and crystallization from the bleeding sap mainly of inflorescences of different types of palm trees. If it is made ​​from the sap of the coconut palm, so it is also called coconut sugar. Palm sugar is not as sweet as ordinary table sugar and has a slightly malty and caramel aftertaste. The main component is sucrose.

Origin and History

Palm Sugar is produced mainly in Southeast Asia, but also in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Africa, South America and the Caribbean, from various palm species, including Nipapalme ( Nypa fruticans ), sugar palm ( Arenga pinnata ), Palmyra palm ( Borassus flabellifer ), Silver Date Palm ( Phoenix sylvestris) and coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). From the Canary Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis) sugary juice is extracted and processed into syrup, but made ​​no palm sugar from it. On La Gomera, for example, the syrup from Canary date palm has been known since the 16th century as a " palm honey " ( Miel de Palma). Also the juice of other palm species is sugar. So already presented firmly Pliny in ancient times that the juice that you win by knocking off the top fronds of the European fan palm ( Chamaerops humilis ), taste sweet.

Production

The sugary sap ( nectar ) of the palm is extracted from the mature inflorescences by incision and collected in containers. The juice must now be processed quickly, otherwise quickly using a natural fermentation process. Palm juice contains up to 15% sugar, and can also be fermented to palm wine or palm vinegar. After sieving solid parts of plants and other foreign materials of the palm juice is first cooked to a syrup. This is then further heated in an open pan under stirring and beating until crystallization begins. The still hot mass is left to cool and solidify into flat shapes (eg, coconut shell ) or bamboo tubes filled.

• Production of palm sugar on West Java

Even further down you win bleeding sap.

By heating and stirring constantly produced palm sugar.

Paver palm sugar

Use

Palm sugar is used as cane sugar to sweeten foods and beverages. Before use, the hard cakes or cylinders must be crushed by breaking or rubbing. Alleged healing effects by ingestion of palm or coconut sugars are not detected.