By Sri Owen
Published 1994
As well as growing and consuming vast amounts of refined granulated cane sugar, Indonesians also value palm sugar, which we call gula aren (from the sugar palm, Arenga pinnata) or gula Jawa (from the coconut palm). These are particularly used in cooking. A general name for both is gula mérah, red sugar. Gula Melaka (Malaya) and jaggery (Burma) are very similar. All are sold in very hard blocks, from which you scrape or grate or chip what you require. Gula mérah can be bought in Oriental shops anywhere.
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