Sugar palm gold kaong it is abundant along the banks of the rivers of the Philippine archipelago. It has a sweet and delicious sap that comes from its male cut flower. It has a sugar content that varies from 10 to 20 degrees Brix. This characteristic allows it to be transformed into sugar. Kaong sugar is healthier compared to regular sugar and other substitutes. It has a low glycemic index (GI) of 35. As it has a low GI value, it is safe for diabetics. Kaong sugar can be used in making coffee, tea, baking, and cooking.
Low GI foods are slow to digest and absorb. This causes a gradual rise in insulin and blood sugar levels, and has proven health benefits. It has been shown to improve glucose and lipid levels in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. They have weight control benefits because they help control appetite and delay hunger. Low GI diets also reduce insulin levels and insulin resistance.
To produce kaong sugar:
1. Freshly harvested kaong sap. The taste should be sweet, not alcoholic or acidic. The sour and alcoholic taste are the result of fermentation. This occurrence will prevent you from achieving powdered kaong sugar. The color should be white, not yellow or gray. If a refractometer is available, the sugar content must be between 10 and 20 degrees Brix.
2. Boil the sap to evaporate the water over moderate heat with occasional stirring until the sap thickens to 115 degrees Celsius.
3. Turn off the heat when it is very sticky or powdered sugar is obtained. The test can be done by taking a small sample and immediately cooling it in the refrigerator.
4. Continue stirring until the sugar becomes granular. Pass through a low speed grinder to obtain a fine and uniform powder. The high speed grinder can produce enough heat to melt and caramelize the sugar.
5. Air dry the sugar and pack. Label correctly.
Depending on the sugar content of the harvested sugar palm sap, one kilogram of sugar can be obtained from eleven liters of sap. The approximate cost of eleven liters of sap is 90 pesos. However, you can spend a lot on the cost of fuel, especially if you are using liquefied petroleum gas. Using alternative fuels, such as rice husks, corn cobs, and dry woods, can reduce fuel consumption.