Jaggery is a traditional accompaniment to Indian meals and is also used for preparation of various sweet dishes (instead of Sugar). It has a tremendous Medicinal importance. Ayurveda has suggested Jaggery as a daily health, nutritional and supplementary food and have suggested Medicinal use of Jaggery to purify the blood, and as protective agent for lungs from polluted air, also regulates liver function and keeps the body healthy and strong from within. It is advised for all age groups.

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Definition: [JAG-uh-ree] this dark, coarse, unrefined sugar sometimes referred to as palm sugar) can be made either from the sap of various palm trees or from sugar-cane juice. It is primarily used in India, where many categorize sugar made from sugar cane as jaggery and that processed from palm trees as gur. It comes in several forms, the two most popular being a soft, honey butter texture and a solid bar form. Known in different languages and countries as: Burma: Jaggery India: Gur, Jaggery Sri Lanka: Hakuaru, Jaggery Thailand: Nam taan oi

It is made by concentrating rich, tropical sugarcane that has been fully matured. In India, the finest of Jaggery is produced in Gujarat, Kolhapur and Tamil Nadu.

Why Jaggery ?

Jaggery is a "natural" sweetener made by concentration of sugarcane juice WITHOUT the use of any chemicals / synthetic additives or preservatives.

It contains an enormous wealth of minerals / proteins / vitamins. More importantly, Jaggery has great nutritive and medicinal value. It has the reputation of being a medicinal sugar and is prescribed for use in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.

Ancient Medical scriptures dating back to 2500 years, states how Jaggery purifies the blood, prevents rheumatic afflictions and disorders of bile and possesses nutritive properties of high order. (Sushruta Sanhita, Chapter 45, sloka 145)

The preventive action of Jaggery on smoke-induced lung lesions, indicates the potential of Jaggery as protective agent for workers in dusty and smoky environments. Paper presented by scientists of Industrial Toxicology Research Centre at a Workshop held in Lyon, France. [Environ Health Perspect, 102 (Supply 6): 211-214 (1994)] - In an experiment, Jaggery - treated rats showed enhanced translocation of coal particles from lungs to tracheobronchial lymph nodes. It is no wonder that Jaggery is regularly consumed by thousands of industrial workers / traffic policemen who are exposed to higher levels of pollution. It helps them breathe easier and counter pollution naturally.

We, therefore, recommend the replacement (at least partially if not completely) of sugar in your diet with Jaggery.

Health facts:

Jaggery contains Proteins, Minerals and Vitamins, which are essential constituents for a human body. It is also a potent source of Iron and has a higher Iron and Copper contents than white sugar.

It is also a superior product among all natural sweeteners with regards to the Vitamin contents. It is an energy food that is said to "purify" blood, regulate the liver function and keep the body healthy.

Nutrition Facts:

Directions of use: 
  
It can be either grated or cut in small pieces. Add according to flavor and sweetness requirement in your food. The former is used to spread on breads and confections, while the solid version serves to make candies, and when crushed, to sprinkle on cereal and so on. Natural Jaggery has a sweet, winy fragrance and flavor that lends distinction to whatever food it embellishes.