The sucrose concentration in fresh coconut sap is about 12% (ave.) by weight, although
this varies from tree to tree, tree variety, and may range from 10% to over 14%.

Namnam Coco Palm Sugar is made by boiling the sap until it becomes
increasingly more concentrated and sweeter right up to the point where

What is the Glycemic Index?

The Glycemic Index (GI) is a way of measuring the relative impact of foods on blood sugar levels. Foods with a high glycemic index have carbohydrates that the body can quickly convert to sugar, which makes them more likely to cause a quick rise in blood sugar. Many popular diets (Atkins and South Beach, for example) include food choices based on the glycemic index.

A table showing the sugar components of coco palm sugar. Unlike cane sugar, coco palm sugar also contains fructose and glucose in it. Fructose and glucose are known together as invert sugar. These two are said to be a factor that gives coco palm sugar its complex sweet  taste.

Invert sugars are produced by the splitting of sucrose, commonly by the action of microorganisms and naturally occurring acids. Some of the sucrose in sap is converted to invert sugar as a result of microbial fermentation during handling and processing.

Diabetes is the short name for Diabetes Mellitus (Latin for honey or sweet). A chronic disease associated with excessive levels of sugar in the blood. This disease occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or does not use it properly.

If left untreated, diabetes can severely damage organs in the body. People with diabetes are considered at risk for developing high blood pressure.

Nutritive value of coconut palm sugar

The Philippine Food and Nutrition Research Institute released the following information about their analysis of nutritive values found in  coconut palm sugar

The other day, I was asked to describe its color and got stumped. Originally, our process produces a dark, chocolate shade of brown, sometimes coppery or just plain brown. Now, it's way lighter than light brown and neither beige nor buff but not white. So, off I went to consult Mr. Google: its color is cream, a hint of yellow tone to the white.