So many different names spread around for this type of sugar, it’s tough for some when buying and determining which one is the right product. Most people assume that coconut sugar and palm sugar are the same thing because the names are used interchangeably. The fact is, they’re two different sugars from two different trees. But coconut sugar is also commonly called coconut palm sugar, this can also lead to confusion between those two. The most confusing part is that they look and taste quite similar. Many online resources claiming that they’re the same or else may be incorrectly labeled. The safest way to ensure that you don’t buy the wrong product, you should check the ingredients list
Firstly you need to know:
What is coconut sugar and how is it made?
Coconut sugar is natural sugar made from the sap of the flower bud stem of the coconut palm tree. Hence, it’s also usually known as coconut palm sugar. Coconut sugar is made by a two-step process. Starting from harvesting by tapping the sap and it’s collected in bamboo tubes. Then, continued with heating the sap will evaporate the moisture content until it becomes a very thick and viscous mixture.
From this point, it can be further processed by reducing more moisture to become crystal. The crystal form then can be formed as a block, granulated, or even formulated to become a liquid syrup form. The difference with palm sugar is only the harvesting process, the sap is taken from the trunks of palm trees. But the after process is more or less the same as coconut sugar. You must note that palm sugar sometimes is mixed with cane sugar, and rarely there are pure palm sugar
Are Coconut Sugar and Palm Sugar the Same? How do they look and taste?
Beside the source of different trees, from the appearance itself coconut sugar has a slightly lighter color than palm sugar. The color can be from creamy beige to a dark rich caramel brown. Palm sugar is more likely to be dark brown to almost black. For the taste and flavor, coconut sugar has a deep and earthy flavor with a caramel hint on top of it. Its base flavor is quite similar to brown sugar, but coconut sugar has a more distinctive and unique taste. Differ from coconut sugar, palm sugar has a smokier and stronger complex flavor. Both of these sugars have a subtle sweetness compared to refined sugar. But usually, palm sugar is mixed with cane sugar so it’s slightly sweeter than coconut sugar which is sold pure.
Is coconut sugar more nutritious than regular sugar?
Now that you know what coconut sugar is, you might be wondering what makes it better than your regular sugar. From the processing itself, coconut sugar is a natural alternative and much less processed than regular or refined sugar. Coconut sugar is definitely more nutritious, it has low glycemic index (GI) when regular sugar has high GI. Meaning, that coconut sugar won’t spike your blood sugar level as much as regular sugar.
Coconut sugar also contains inulin, which may explain why it has low GI, it can be related to the presence of inulin content. Moreover, coconut sugar contains more nutrients such as iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium, as well as antioxidants. But remember, that coconut sugar is also sugar so consume it in moderation and sparingly.
Can I substitute coconut sugar for palm sugar?
You can because they have quite similar flavor profiles. But palm sugar has a smokier and more complex flavor. So for cooking, use it in dishes that the flavor won’t change as much if you add different types of sugar. Or a great tip, add it little by little and taste it by you liking
You should read this : Surprising Ways to Use Coconut Sugar For Cooking
What is the difference between coconut sugar and palm sugar?
Coconut sugar is made from the sap of coconut palm tree, but palm sugar is from a different tree, palm tree. From the look and taste, coconut sugar has a lighter color and slightly more caramel-y flavour than palm sugar that have a smokier and more complex flavour.
Is Palm sugar healthier than coconut sugar?
Pure palm sugar is almost the same in nutrient content, when compared to pure coconut sugar. But usually, the palm sugar that’s found in the market is mixed with cane or refined sugar. So Are Coconut Sugar and Palm Sugar the Same? No, and it can be said that coconut sugar is healthier than palm sugar.
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