Palm Sugar

The firm, deeply sweet and reddish brown and sold in compact oval or round form, palm sugar is versatile enough to be used in sweet dishes and desserts, particularly savory cuisines that require a delicate balance. Usually producing a caramel-like taste, palm sugar is also sweet enough to be used on its own as a refreshing drink, with crushed ice as the only additional ingredient.

Made from the sap of palm trees, palm sugar is sold in round cakes, cylinders, or in large plastic or glass jars. The cylindrical ones are 5 to 7.5 centimeters in diameter, and have a particular smoky taste from the cooking fire used to process the sold products. Store palm sugar in a plastic container or tightly wrapped in plastic, in a cool, dark, dry place and it should last for up to two years. Sometimes the surface of the sugar is sealed with a fine layer of wax to enable it to last longer. This is because the sugar loses much of its moisture, and it becomes rock hard, but the sugar is pretty much safe to use and consume.