Palm sugar

Sucre de palme

What it is

Tapped from the flower stalk of a palm, not from any fruit — a climber cuts the stem and hangs a pot beneath it every morning. The sap is boiled the same day, because it ferments within hours in tropical heat.

In the kitchen

It is far less sweet than white sugar and more savoury. Do not substitute it one for one in a Western recipe.

Goes with

Fish sauce Lime Chili pepper Ginger Coconut milk Lemongrass Garlic Peanut

Also used with

Basil seed Black glutinous rice Durian Jackfruit Kecap manis Green mango

Something wrong here, or missing? Tell us