Does it make sense to use coconut palm sugar?

1. What is coconut sugar?

2. Properties of Coconut Sugar

3. Usage of coconut sugar

1. What is coconut sugar?

Coconut sugar is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the white version of this food item. The primary raw material for its production is white, sweet juice directly obtained from the flowers of the coconut palm. After accumulating the appropriate amount of liquid, the evaporation process begins, the result of which is light brown syrup. This very product is transformed into the form of blocks, cubes, or crystals after thickening. The sugar itself, also known as palm sugar, resembles cane sugar in appearance and flavor. The delicate caramel taste is further enriched with the coconut aroma, emphasizing its dessert nature. The main countries importing coconut sugar are primarily the Philippines and Indonesia.

2. Properties of Coconut Sugar

The growing popularity of coconut sugar is due to the fact that it can be treated as a healthy substitute for white table sugar. Is it true that the sugar obtained from the palm tree is a good solution for diabetics and will help in the fight against unnecessary kilograms? The truth lies somewhere in the middle. Nearly 80% of the sugar is made up of sucrose. The rest is fructose and glucose, the content of which depends on the age of the tree, its growing conditions or the methods of obtaining the juice. Considering the caloric content of both sugar varieties, it can be assumed that they are very similar products. Table sugar contains 405 kcal/100 g, while exotic coconut sugar - 381 kcal/100 g. The glycemic index is also similar. The value of the IG coefficient for coconut palm is 54, while the result of its competitor is 68. The significant similarity of coconut sugar and white sugar is also visible in the composition. It can be safely stated that the content of mineral components in coconut sugar is higher than in most sweeteners. However, the quantities are not high enough for the supplementation doses to differ from the remaining sweeteners. This is a very good proof that coconut sugar is simply a more natural and beneficial option for our digestive system. However, in terms of its properties, it is almost identical to table sugar.

3. Usage of coconut sugar

If we decide to purchase coconut sugar, it is valuable to know how to use it best. Firstly, it should be noted that it is used as an additive to coffee, desserts, sweet sauces, baked goods, or omelettes. Very often, it is utilized in Thai cuisine as a base for creating sweet and sour dishes. Due to its great resemblance to white sugar, comparable quantities of coconut sugar should be used. Besides its use in gastronomy, coconut sugar can also serve as an air freshener and fragrance agent.