Jaggery

About this product

Jaggery (வெல்லம்) – unrefined cane sugar with its molasses left in, the traditional sweetener of South Indian kitchens. Unlike white sugar, jaggery is not stripped during processing, which is why it keeps its dark colour, its mineral content and a deep, faintly smoky caramel flavour. That flavour is not interchangeable with sugar. It is the reason chakkarai pongal, adhirasam, ellu urundai and payasam taste the way they are supposed to. Its uses run through the whole South Indian repertoire. It sweetens pongal and payasam at festivals, balances tamarind in sambar and rasam, binds sesame and peanut ladoo, and is stirred into coffee and herbal kashayam. Many households simply finish a meal with a small piece of jaggery, a practice traditionally associated with digestion. Because it is unrefined, jaggery retains small amounts of iron, potassium, magnesium and calcium that refined sugar loses, although it remains a sugar and is best used in moderation. Store in a dry, airtight container. Jaggery draws moisture readily in humid weather and will soften or weep if left open. Break off what you need and reseal the rest promptly. Order online or over WhatsApp, with cash on delivery available.