Some people are only aware that coconut is a good source of electrolytes and plant-based fat. However, coconut, especially its nectar or sap, is actually an excellent source of sugar. In Asia, there is an industry that turns sugar in coconut into coconut palm sugar.

This particular sugar looks almost similar to brown sugar. Both of them are brown. However, the coconut palm sugar has a unique flavor and is available in various sizes. You can get it in the form of small granules, which is similar to brown sugar, or large chunks.

How to Turn Sugar in Coconut into Coconut Palm Sugar?

These are the steps of manufacturing coconut palm sugar.

1.      Harvesting Coconut Sap

Farmers sometimes call the harvesting process of coconut sap as tapping. They cut the coconut flower bud stem manually and attach a container onto it. The sap then flows into the container.

2.      Boiling the Sap

The coconut palm sugar manufacturers collect fresh coconut sap from the farmers. The sap consists of approximately 80% water. Therefore, the manufacturers need to boil the sap to remove its water content and to get the coconut sugar

In some cases, manufacturers boil the sap until it turns into granules. However, in other cases, they boil the sap into thick paste. The paste is then poured into coconut sugar molds and left for several hours to cool down and harden.

3.      Packing

The last step is packing. Manufacturers pack coconut sugar properly in order to maintain its quality.

Coconut Sugar’s Nutrition Facts

How many carbs in coconut sugar? A teaspoon of sugar contains about 4 grams of carbs and the amount of sugar in coconut is similar to the amount of the carbs. Meanwhile, its total energy is approximately 15 calories and its GI is 54.

Coconut sugar also contains a small amount of minerals. Some of them are calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc. Therefore, coconut sugar is not purely an empty sugar.

The process of turning sugar in coconut into coconut palm sugar may seem quite simple. However, harvesting the coconut sap requires a special skill because the coconut flower is on the top of the coconut tree and the tree is very high. Therefore, farmers need to have excellent climbing skills for it.