🍯 Jaggery (Gur) – A Natural Sweetener from Nature
🌾 What is Jaggery?
Jaggery, also known as "Gur" in India, is a traditional, unrefined sweetener made by boiling the juice of sugarcane, palm sap, or date palm sap until it solidifies into blocks or syrup. Unlike white sugar, jaggery is rich in minerals and retains its natural goodness.
- Scientific Names: Saccharum officinarum (Sugarcane), Borassus flabellifer (Palm)
- Color: Golden brown to dark brown 🌕🌑
- Taste: Deep caramel-like flavor with a hint of molasses 🍬
💪 Nutritional Benefits
- ✅ Rich in iron, calcium, and magnesium
- ✅ Boosts energy naturally ⚡
- ✅ Aids in digestion and acts as a detoxifier
- ✅ Contains antioxidants that support immunity
🌿 Types of Jaggery by Raw Material
- 1️⃣ Sugarcane Jaggery: Made from sugarcane juice, used in sweets, drinks, and Ayurvedic remedies
- 2️⃣ Palm Jaggery (Karupatti): Extracted from palm sap, darker, richer in minerals, considered premium
- 3️⃣ Date Palm Jaggery (Nolen Gur): Seasonal winter delicacy, unique aroma, popular in Bengal & Bangladesh
🧊 Types of Jaggery by Texture & Form
- 🔲 Solid Jaggery (Block Form): Most common form, used in sweets, chikki, cooking
- 🔹 Powdered Jaggery: Crushed, dissolves easily, great for beverages
- 💧 Liquid Jaggery (Kakvi): Syrupy form, popular in Ayurvedic drinks
🇮🇳 Famous Jaggery Varieties in India
- 🥇 Kolhapur Jaggery (Maharashtra): Light golden, rich taste, used in sweets like puran poli & chikki
- 🌾 Mandya Jaggery (Karnataka): Soft texture, high sucrose, common in South Indian dishes
- 🌱 Uttarakhand Organic Jaggery: Dark brown, grown organically, used in medicinal diets
- 🌴 Tamil Nadu Karupatti: Dark brown, deep caramel taste, used in Siddha & Ayurveda
- ❄️ Bengal Nolen Gur: Light golden, aromatic, key to Sandesh & Rasgulla
- 🌾 Punjab Desi Gur: Medium brown, handcrafted, added to winter drinks like gur wali chai
- 🌿 Marayoor Jaggery (Kerala): Unique flavor, dark brown, Ayurvedic use