Jaggery

Jaggery is an unrefined form of sugar obtained by evaporating either sugarcane juice or the juice of the date palm. It comes in various shades, from light to dark golden brown. It also comes in many forms, from blocks to granular jaggery, which is easier to measure when cooking. Blocks are soft enough, though, so that you can cut off as much as you need with a large knife. Transfer the chunk of jaggery to a resealable plastic bag and pound it gently with a rolling pin or a heavy pan to crush it. Because jaggery is an unrefined sweetener, it carries a lot of minerals and salts, which make it hygroscopic (it absorbs moisture from the air). So always store it in an airtight container.