Palm sugar(Gula Melaka) was originally made from the coconut nectar of the coconut tree.It is quickly gaining popularity in the progressive global health community as an alternative to high fructose agave syrup. The taste of pure coconut palm sugar resembles that of brown sugar, yet with more rounded caramel and butterscotch notes, without the metallic ending flavor that brown sugar has. It has a rich flavor. For cooking purposes, it has a very low melt temperature and an extremely high burn temperature. This makes it a suitable sweetener for confectioners.

The brown sugar is a golden brown granule or paste, sold in tubes, blocks or tin cans. Liquid versions of coconut palm sugar are also available. It may be light-colored or dark, soft and gooey or hard. As a lightly-processed product of cottage industry, it varies greatly from batch to batch.

While coconut sugar has long been a staple for South East Asian culinary heritage and herbal medicine, the evolution of this traditional sweetener into a practical and easy to use cane sugar alternative heralds an exciting moment for the food & beverage industry. Coconut Palm Sugar has an extremely low glycemic index, an extremely high nutrient content and an affordable price for manufacturers and consumers alike.

There has been a rapid increase in popularity with progressive manufactures in the United States who make products for the health conscious consumer. Because diabetes is becoming a global epidemic, consumers are becoming very aware of their sugar intake, in what form their sugar comes in and where it comes from. Coconut palm sugar, because of its low glycemic qualities and high nutrient profile, is gaining in popularity for a wide array of uses to cater to the sugar conscious consumer.

Palm sugar is made by making several slits into the bud of a coconut tree and collecting the blossom nectars. Then boiled until it thickens after which, in the traditional way, it is poured into bamboo tubes between 3-5 inches in length, and left to solidify to form cylindrical cake blocks. Alternatively, it can be poured into glass jars or others container.