Coconut sugar is also called Coconut Palm Sugar.
It is a natural sugar made from sap, which is the sugary circulating fluid of the coconut plant. It is often confused with Palm Sugar, which is similar but made from a different type of palm tree.
This sugar is derived from the coconut palm tree and is touted as being more nutritious and lower on the glycemic index than sugar.
Coconut sugar is made in a natural 2-step process:
- A cut is made on the flower of the coconut palm and the liquid sap is collected into containers.
- The sap is placed under heat until most of the water has evaporated.
While regular table sugar and high fructose corn syrup do not contain any vital nutrient and therefore considered “empty” calories. Coconut sugar retains a bit of the nutrient found in the coconut palm.
Most notable of these are the minerals Iron, Zinc, Calcium and Potassium, along with some short chain fatty acids, polyphenols and antioxidants that may also provide some health benefits.
It also contains a fiber called inulin, which may slow glucose absorption and explain why coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than regular table sugar
The manufacturing process is also more natural then table sugars and it contains some minor amount of nutrients. So in effect, it is healthier than refined sugar, and that is why we use chose to use just a touch to bring out that special flavour in our granola.
Leave a comment