Palm Nectar

Palm Nectar, also known as Coconut Sugar or Palm Sugar, is nectar that drips from the flowers of the Coconut (Coco Nucifera) Tree. We absolutely love this sweetener!

The Palm Nectar we use is harvested on the island of Java by Big Tree Farms - a company that works directly with over 9,000 farmers and has raised the bar for integrity in the organic food movement. You can find it on the shelves under the brand SweetTree or on our website and we highly recommend you do!

The Palm Nectar we use is minimally processed, unbleached, certified organic, and sustainably harvested. It has a glycemic index of 35 (compare to honey 55 or cane sugar 68), and a low fructose content. This low sugar impact is very beneficial for anyone trying to watch their blood sugar - whether a Type I or Type II diabetic, managing weight gain, or just wanting to avoid the "highs and crashes" of sugars!

Not only is Palm Nectar low glycemic, but it is also nutrient rich - high in many vitamins and minerals such as Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, and Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, and C, and it even contains protein!

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has called palm sugar "the world's most sustainable sweetener" and that is sweet news, indeed! The Coco Nucifera tree does not tap the soil of its minderals and produces much more sweetener per acre than cane. The co-operative farms are biodiverse, grow many crops in the same soil to maintain sustainability, and have a deep-rooted tradition of this amazing food that they call the "Tree of Life."

Big Tree Farms goes above and beyond the basic definition of a socially responsible company by working with NGOs to support the local economy and environment, enabling all sales revenues to remain in the local producing community.

For the in-depth history and nutritional information of Palm Nectar, please read here.

I visited Big Tree Farms in October 2009 and truly loved what I saw. Take a peek:

 Here is the process:

• Climb up coconut tree and hang bamboo bucket from dripping coconut flowers
• Climb back up and collect the bucket (no easy task, let me tell you!)
• Evaporate water nectar in a pot over wood fire
• Grind caramelized nectar into granules
• Sweat a lot the whole time
• Get laughed at by Javanese women who think it's funny you've come to do this