We have all heard about jaggery and its many benefits. But do you know about Karupatti jaggery? It’s a traditional palm jaggery from Tamil Nadu. Made from the sap of palm trees, it’s super healthy and can be considered a much better alternative to the white sugar we normally use. Today, we are going to know more about how it tastes, its benefits, and how to use it.
What Is Karupatti Jaggery From Tamil Nadu?
Jaggery is typically made from sugarcane juice. Commonly called ‘gud’ or ‘gur’ in Hindi, it’s seen as a healthier substitute for refined sugar. The jaggery we usually see is light brown in colour. But have you heard about Karupatti jaggery? It’s a traditional sweetener used in Tamil Nadu and other South Indian cities. It’s much darker, has a lower glycaemic index, and is full of minerals. You would like to know that Karupatti jaggery is handmade and sometimes also wrapped in banana leaves. Now, you must be wondering how it’s made.
This jaggery is made from the sap of palm trees. The sap is first collected, filtered, and boiled. Once it reaches a thick consistency, the liquid is poured into moulds. It is then set into shape and cut into small pieces. People from South India often grate or melt it to use in various recipes.
But here’s what makes it different: instead of standard moulds, coconut shells are used to set this jaggery, which adds to its flavour. We all know how jaggery tastes: sweet with a mild flavour. But the same can’t be said for Karupatti jaggery. The one from Tamil Nadu has a much stronger earthy taste with notes of caramel and chocolate. It tastes less sweet in comparison to the regular jaggery. Just reading about it makes our mouths water!
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It Has Many Health Benefits
Karupatti jaggery is usually handmade, unlike the typical jaggery that’s easily made in factories. This makes it a much better and healthier alternative to regular jaggery. Plus, it’s made without using any chemicals! Here are some health benefits of Karupatti jaggery or palm jaggery.
- It’s rich in iron and helps boost haemoglobin production. It also has magnesium, calcium, and folate that support our health.
- This traditional jaggery from Tamil Nadu is high in dietary fibre, which aids digestion and helps relieve constipation and stomachache.
- Karupatti jaggery is also seen as a natural detoxifier. Including it in your diet can help remove harmful toxins from the body and cleanse it from within.
- It’s packed with antioxidants that promote better skin and overall health. Imagine getting glowing skin just by eating jaggery. Sounds amazing, right?
- It also boosts immunity. Considering that, it could be a great superfood for winter!
How To Use Karupatti Jaggery?
Now, when it comes to using Karupatti jaggery, it’s quite simple. Here are some ways you can include it in your diet:
- Chai and coffee are a part of our daily routine, right? Just grate the jaggery, melt it, and add it to your warm drink instead of white sugar.
- Instead of using sugar in halwa, sweets, or ladoos, use melted Karupatti jaggery( make a syrup out of it) and mix it into the dish.
- You can also dissolve a small piece of palm jaggery in warm water and drink it. Add ginger, and it turns into a soothing drink, perfect for a sore throat!
- Some people even use Karupatti jaggery as an alternative to sugar for baking cakes, and honestly, that’s a fantastic idea!
- Apart from using it in recipes, you can eat it plain as a snack or even with chapatis.
Though it has many benefits, it’s always advised to eat jaggery in moderation. And if you ever make Karupatti jaggery at home, make sure you store it in an airtight container.
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So tell us, have you ever tried Karupatti jaggery before? How was the taste? Was it chocolatey? Honestly, learning that it has caramel and chocolate notes already makes us curious to try it!
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