Jaggery

Jaggery has acquired the badge of a serious health halo. Due to its sweet and wholesome flavour, it is often referred to as a “superfood sweetener”. This clearly shows our fondness for this mellow caramel-coloured healthy sweetener. Indians have been making Jaggery from Sugarcane for centuries now and thank God we are still aware of the art of this traditional process.

Jaggery making process followed by us is pretty traditional and does not include any form of chemicals. The extraction process involves methods of pressing the canes or palms to extract the sweet juice or sap and then subjected to a distilling process to extract juice. The juice is allowed to stand in large containers so that any sediment settles to the bottom. It is then strained to produce a clear liquid. The juice is placed in a very large, flat-bottomed pan and boiled. During this process, the jaggery is stirred and the impurities are skimmed off the top until only a yellow, dough-like paste remains. The colour can range from light golden to dark brown. This is important, since the colour and texture are used to grade the jaggery. This whole process of making Jaggery preserves a lot of natural ingredients of the Sugarcane.

Health Benefits & Uses of Jaggery

Jaggery has a positive effect on digestion, improves immunity to fight common cold and cough. It is a rich source of iron, which is an important component of haemoglobin. It is rich in antioxidants which helps to flush out toxins from various organs and gives you healthy looking skin.You can eat it with a piece of ginger to alleviate joint pain, or even drink a glass of milk with jaggery every day to help strengthen the bones, thus preventing joint and bone problems such as arthritis.
⁃ Boosts immunity
⁃ Treats chronic cough
⁃ Treats hiccups
⁃ Acts as a respiratory tract cleanser
⁃ Rich in high fibre and mineral content
⁃ Prevents nervous system problems
⁃ Controls blood pressure
⁃ Regulates liver function
⁃ Improves sperm quality and production