This article provides an overview of palm sugar, what it tastes like, its availability, alternative names, and of course what other ingredients make palm sugar substitutes.
What is Palm Sugar?
Palm sugar is a sweetener made from any variety of palm trees. Although they may have slightly different compositions, palm sugar from any variety is processed similarly and can be used interchangeably.
Palm sugar is commonly used in many sweet and savory dishes, especially in Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.
What does Palm Sugar taste like?
Palm sugar has a deep earthy aroma and a rich sweetness. It has a similar taste to caramel and butterscotch, with smoky notes and hints of maple. It has more complexity to it than regular white sugar and brown sugar.
Is Palm Sugar readily available in Supermarkets?
Palm sugar should be available in supermarkets, where it is often found in the world foods section, especially with other Asian foods. Alternatively, you could try an Asian market or an online retailer.
What are some alternative names for Palm Sugar?
Palm sugar is known as gula Jawa in Indonesia and gula Melaka in Malaysia.
What is a good substitute for Palm Sugar in recipes?
Luckily, there are a number of great substitutes for palm sugar. These include:
- Palm sugar can be substituted for
- Coconut Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Raw Sugar
- White Sugar
- Maple Syrup
- Honey
- Molasses