Coconut Sugar - Nature's Best Sweetener

Coconut sugar is quickly gaining popularity to both health conscious consumers and diabetics alike but what not a whole lot of information is really available about this "wonder" sugar substitute - so let's change that.

Coconut Sugar is derived from the flowers of coconut trees. It is 100% natural and the process of making it has not changed for thousands of years. Yes - it has been around for thousands of years and still being used today as a traditional sweetener in South East Asian countries. Some even prefer its taste over regular cane sugar. Making it involves 2 simple tasks: "Tap" the tree to extract the sap then heat the collected sap until the moisture content of the sap evaporates causing it to crystallize. Once it crystallizes, it is ready for use. That's it.

Tapping the coconut tree is a simple process. The farmer climbs up the tree then makes a small cut on the flower stalk of the coconut. A sweet sap then oozes out of this cut which is then collected with bamboo containers. Amazingly, the tree will continue to produce that sap and will continue to do so for the next 20 years. If the sap dries up, the farmer makes another cut and the sap flows again. He can also tap one stalk and leave another one intact to mature to coconuts. Not all coconuts can be tapped though - only certain species but a single tree can produce a lot of sap, roughly 5000 liters per hectare. That's over 1300 gallons and 5-7 more per hectare than the production of coconut oil!

The sap is about 80% water, contains 16 amino acids and is loaded with vitamins and minerals. The collected sap is then placed in large cooking pans and is "cooked" until all the moisture evaporates and crystallizes. End result is a golden brown crystal sugar - ready for use.

What makes it good?

Coconut sugar is 100% natural. In addition, it has a low glycemic index of 35 making it a sweet alternative for diabetics and health conscious consumers. More importantly, it can be used as a 1:1 direct sugar substitute. You can use it for your coffee, tea, baking or cooking! It does not contain any toxic or harmful chemicals and is good for you.

The taste is not as sweet as regular sugar. Its almost like brown sugar but with a subtle caramel flavor. However, it is not overly processed so taste, color and flavor can vary from box to box. Factors such as when the coconut was harvested, where it was grown and the way it was reduced can affect the final product. No two coconut sugars are exactly alike and its like grapes and wine in that regard.

Glycemic Index can vary too but the average is around 35. Regular table sugar has a glycemic index of 80. Artificial sweeteners can contain harmful chemicals. Coconut sugar offers a healthier alternative.

If you are interested to know more about this amazing sugar substitute, please check out http://www.sugarcoconut.com for more information.