Here’s a type of sugar that does not attract swarms of ants.
This sugar is not only “ant-free” — it is also a good sweetener for diabetics. And suited for those consciously managing their weight, too.
The coconut sap sugar (CSS) was developed through research conducted by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Coconut Authority (DA-PCA).
The CSS production process was one of the mature technologies presented at the Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum organized by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) last May 24 during the observance of Farmer and Fisherfolk Month (May).
PCA’s Erlene Manchar presented the technology through a report titled “Coconut Sap Sugar: A High-Value and Promising Health Food from Coconut,” which she co-authored with Nina Marie Kindipan and Lorna Sancha.
Coconut sap sugar is the oyster white liquid oozing from the unopened coconut inflorescence. It is extracted by tapping the unopened inflorescence.
CSS is produced by boiling the fresh and clean sap through simple heat evaporation (removing the liquid portion, leaving the solid form of crystals through the transformation of liquid to solid). It also undergoes pasteurization, boiling, caramelization and crystallization until sugar crystals are produced.
Coconut sugar contains sucrose (84.98 percent), fructose (2.9 percent) and glucose (two percent). It also has high macro nutrients (potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium and calcium) and micronutrients (boron, zinc, manganese, copper and iron).
Marohar described sugar sap production as a “simple farm technology” that does not require sophisticated equipment and is location-specific (best suited in the Visayas and Mindanao).
As a “health food,” CSS gives a slower increase in blood response when consumed because of the fructose content. Moreover, it “can be used by people with diabetes in weight management,” she said.
Known in Indonesia and Thailand as early as the 1980s, coconut sugar was introduced in the Philippines in 1998. – Rudy A. Fernandez
Source: "Ant Free Sugar, anyone", Philippine Star, Rudy A. Fernandex, 2007-06-10.
Ant-free sugar, anyone?
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Is that ever possible? Is there anything in the sugar that will prevent ants or other insects from eating them?
In our experience, this isn't true. Ants will eat any coco sugar left lying around. Even the bees take a sip from the sweet, fresh sap.
We don't put any additives in the fresh sap, or at any stage of the cooking process. What you get is 100% pure coconut palm sugar.