Buzz
Palm sugar is known for its cooling properties and sweet, refreshing taste, making it a popular choice for preparing healthy dishes. Do you understand what palm sugar is? How to prepare palm sugar? If not, discover it right away with Mytour !
1. What is palm sugar?
Palm sugar is recognized by its crystalline or square rock form, with a firm texture. Palm sugar usually appears white or light yellow, while some types may have a dark brown hue. Palm sugar is produced from ingredients such as sugarcane, sugar palm, toddy palm, or coconut palm. The process is somewhat intricate, but the results are rewarding.
When making, you will take white sugar mixed with a certain amount of water, add lime, chicken eggs to soften the sweetness and filter out impurities in the sugar sand, then simmer over low heat until it thickens, then put it in a barrel with bamboo trays. Wait for about 10 - 12 days for the sugar to crystallize into blocks. (Note that the purer the white sugar, the easier it is to crystallize, and the better the quality of the finished product).
Generally, this type of sugar has fewer calories than refined sugar, so it is often used as a treat, for poached pears in sugar syrup, or for soaking apricots in sugar syrup. Or refreshing drinks like coconut water - chia seeds, aloe vera with sugar syrup,...
Photo: Collected
2. Uses of palm sugar
Palm sugar is intricately crafted and requires a long waiting period to yield the product, so its functions are quite unique. You can refer to:
- Palm sugar is used as a common seasoning in various dishes such as baking, making candy, cooking sweet soups, preparing refreshing drinks, or marinating fruits to make syrup. Thanks to palm sugar, it creates products with a sweet, refreshing taste and is good for health.
- It also helps treat colds or moments when you cough. Just sucking on palm sugar with apricot can significantly reduce coughing.
- Looking at the appearance of palm sugar, it looks very much like a candy. Sucking palm sugar after meals can promote digestion.
- A warm milk without sugar but with a piece of palm sugar will provide a significant energy boost to the body. Especially for those in the postmenopausal phase.
- Soaking palm sugar with various fruits like strawberries, tamarind,... or mixing it with water creates a refreshing drink for the summer.
Photo: Collected
3. Common Types of Palm Sugar
Sweet corn dessert with palm sugar is a popular choice, especially on hot summer days. Not only delicious, but this dish is also simple to make with easy-to-find ingredients. The dessert cooked with palm sugar is aromatic and visually appealing. The unique properties of palm sugar ensure that the dessert is not overly sweet but rather pleasantly mild and enjoyable without being overwhelming.
Photo: Collection
Steamed pear with red apple palm sugar
Steamed pear with red apple palm sugar is a favorite remedy for children's cough among mothers. Simply use Korean pears, then cut out half of the flesh. Other ingredients like ginger and red apples should be washed and sliced. Lastly, place all the ingredients together and pour palm sugar on top. Steam for about 30 minutes, and you're done. The combination of these ingredients significantly improves cough symptoms, and it's easy to eat, so children also enjoy it.
Image: Collected
Thai basil tea with palm sugar and persimmon/lime
Adding palm sugar after boiling Thai basil leaves, letting it cool, and then adding persimmon/lime will give you another refreshing tea. Initially, you may find the scent of Thai basil leaves quite strong and difficult to drink. However, adding palm sugar and a little persimmon/lime will make the tea sweet, fragrant, and light. The benefits of this beverage include aiding gout and stomach issues. Especially effective for treating colds and nasal congestion. And finally, this tea also helps you achieve a beautiful skin.
Image: Collected
Guava soaked in palm sugar
When it comes to soaked fruits, palm sugar is definitely a must-try. Especially the guava soaked in palm sugar, which is simply delicious with an easy recipe of separating the guava flesh and cooking it with palm sugar. After the syrup cools, place the guava in a container and pour the palm sugar syrup over it to soak for about 1 day before enjoying. Having a container of guava soaked in water to drink in the summer is unbeatable.
Photo: Amusingly Witty
- Compilation : Common types of sugar used in baking
Bird's nest with palm sugar infusion
This dish is certainly not unfamiliar to patients as well as expectant mothers. Bird's nest and palm sugar are a combination that helps stimulate digestion, absorb nutrients faster. Especially, it promotes cell regeneration for bright, smooth, and rosy skin. The simple method involves cleaning the bird's nest thoroughly and steaming it with water for about 30 minutes. After that, add palm sugar and keep it warm for another 30 minutes. This dish tastes good whether served hot or cold. You can also add other ingredients like red apples, lotus seeds, etc.
Photo: Collection
Sweet, fragrant stir-fried palm sugar
Stir-fried cucumbers and pineapples with palm sugar is a relatively new and exotic dish for many. However, this dish is surprisingly delicious and enticing. While the cucumbers retain their original shape, the pineapples and palm sugar blend together to create a sweet and refreshing flavor. Note that thorough frying will help with preservation. Make it now for your family to enjoy.
Photo: Collection
5. What can palm sugar be replaced with?
If you can't find palm sugar, you can use refined sugar as a substitute. Because the function of refined sugar is similar to palm sugar. Moreover, refined sugar is less sweet than white sugar, so it's the most reasonable choice.
Photo: Collection
6. Where to buy palm sugar?
Palm sugar is not a difficult ingredient to find. You can buy it at grocery stores, markets, or large supermarkets. If it's not available in your area, you can also check out palm sugar varieties sold on e-commerce platforms like Shopee, Lazada, Vinmart, etc.
Currently, palm sugar prices range from 15,000 to 260,000 Vietnamese dong depending on the quantity and quality of the product. Make sure to find a reputable source to purchase this product.
7. Considerations when using palm sugar
Despite the beneficial effects of palm sugar, here are some considerations you need to know:
- Use palm sugar according to daily standards to avoid health issues.
- If you have diabetes, heart disease, or obesity, avoid excessive palm sugar consumption in your daily diet.
- Breastfeeding mothers should limit palm sugar intake and consider incorporating it with other ingredients.
- Store palm sugar in the refrigerator's cool compartment to prevent leakage or mold growth.
Photo: Collection
Through the article, you now know What is palm sugar. Hopefully, this useful information will help you understand the composition and the best way to use this type of sugar. Don't forget to check out more interesting and informative articles on Mytour Blog!
Explore more articles:
- What is powdered sugar? Composition and uses
- What is grape sugar and its applications
