What is palm jaggery, karuppatti? Glossary | Benefits, Uses, Recipes with palm jaggery, karuppatti | Viewed 9079 times
Also Known as
Karuppatti

What is palm jaggery, karuppatti?

Palm jaggery is a unique tasting sweetener derived from palm extracts. It has a rustic but charming flavour, and can be used as a healthier substitute to white sugar. It is less processed and retains more nutrients like minerals, salts and vitamins. It may be light to dark brown in colour, and usually available as small blocks or roundels. It is very popular in Tamil Nadu, where it is often used instead of jaggery or cane sugar.

It is often given to gestating mothers, to improve digestion and cleanse the body. A mixture of palm jaggery and ginger powder helps stop hiccups and improves conditions like migraine and indigestion.

How to select palm jaggery, karuppatti

• Palm jaggery is available at shops that sell regular cane jaggery.
• In supermarkets, it is packed in plastic containers, cling film or palm leaf containers, and labeled as palm sugar.
• It is available in block form.

Culinary Uses of palm jaggery, karuppatti in Indian Cooking

• Palm jaggery is used to sweeten drinks like the famous South Indian ‘Sukku Kaapi’ (coriander and ginger tea).
• You can make Palm Jaggery Tea by boiling jaggery with water, filtering and adding a few drops of lemon juice.
• It can also be used to make sweets and desserts.
• Add a dash of palm jaggery to your daily cooking to impart a pleasant sweetness to dishes like dal.

How to store palm jaggery, karuppatti

• Store in a dry, air-tight container at room temperature.
• Place the container of palm sugar into a dark, dry area, such as a pantry.

Health benefits of palm jaggery, karuppatti

• Palm Jaggery is rich in iron and helps in increasing haemoglobin.
• It is a good source of carbohydrates and thus acts as an energy booster.
• It is rich in potassium too.
But consume it in moderation.

Chopped palm jaggery

Place the palm jaggery block on a chopping board. Cut the block into half using a sharp knife. Cut it further into pieces of desired size, as per recipe requirements.