Toddy Palm Sugar

 

Benefits: An iconic Thai sugar made from toddy palm flowers. It is sweet and fragrant, yet low in glycemic index and packed with vitamins

 

Palm sugar is derived from the flower bud of the toddy palm tree, which is boiled until it thickens into sugar. In the past, the toddy palm sugar in Phetchaburi was called "pot sugar," but nowadays it is commonly known as palm sugar or palm sugar blocks, depending on the type of container used and the process of making the sugar into solid blocks. Similarly, coconut sugar can also be referred to as coconut sugar blocks.

Palm sugar is a common sweetener in Thai cuisine, known for its gentle sweetness and reddish-brown colour. It has a smooth texture and easily dissolves into a liquid when heated. It is often used as a seasoning in savoury dishes and desserts such as chilli paste, various curries, and sweets like Gaeng Buad, which includes a variety of fruits and vegetables such as taro and pumpkin. 

In the Sathing Phra District of Songkhla Province, there is "Nam Tam Waen," which is a type of processed palm sugar that is shapted into thin circular shapes that is called 'waen,' in Thai. Toddy palm sugar, another type of palm sugar, is also a specialty product of Phetchaburi province, where toddy palms grow naturally in the fields. It is a signature sweetener of Phetchaburi Province, widely used in both savoury and sweet dishes. 

Palm sugar is considered to have a low glycemic index, with a sugar content of only 53.61%. It helps regulate blood sugar levels, reduces the risk of heart and vascular diseases, and is rich in various nutrients, such as vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, and C.

 

Common name: Palm Sugar, Palm Jaggery