How to Identify Good Jaggery
In her article, Identify the Most Harmful Ingredients in Packaged Foods, Vrinda shared that these days, sulphur dioxide is used as an additive to maintain the freshness of the fruits. And long term exposure to this additive can cause respiratory problems. Well Well! This means anything which has sulphur dioxide content in it, is capable of same backlash? It got some inquisitive minds questioning. A series of questions came from Arzoo.
Before I talk about jaggery. I want to share that running missfit is a challenge because so many questions are asked here everyday. But this challenge is what makes it interesting and all the the more, what makes it fun. I guess 
This was the conversation between me and Arzoo
Arzoo : Is it bad to consume jaggery if it contains sulphur dioxide?
Me: Hi Arzoo.. Jaggery is one of the best natural sugar. Try to get the natural one. Packaged one that are available in the market comes with all these harmful additives. Natural jaggery is easily available at places around sugar mills.
Arzoo: I always use to get jaggery from local place. I never consumed the packaged one and now I have heard many cases of jaggery made from sugar. How to identify if the jaggery is fake or real like how one can identify it at home?
My father’s work is related to sugar mills. I knew he would be the best person to ask this question. I got to travel the whole day with my papa yesterday. We talked on these topics and he told me so many things about food products and adulteration. Papa’s are so well informed and they have the skill of telling things you know.. They tell things just like stories
How is jaggery made?
1. Sugarcane juice is extracted and boiled.
2. It is boiled, boiled, boiled and stirred, stirred, stirred until all the impurity come to the surface. At this instant something like calcium carbonate or caustic soda is added to enhance the process of separation of jaggery from the impurities.
3. This impurity is removed leaving behind the thick semi solid, jaggery.
Which is the best Jaggery?
The pure, fresh jaggery prepared this way is very light in color and is soft. The older this jaggery gets, the darker and the harder it becomes. Also, the older it becomes the more unhealthy it gets.
What is the best season to have Jaggery?
Winter is the best season to have jaggery for 2 reasons.
1) Its warm in nature and has antiseptic properties. Jaggery and ginger tea or milk in winters is like a blessing from heaven :P. It treats cold and maintains our body temperature. Yes jaggery milk is very good during periods also. Read Health Benefits of Jaggery
2) November is the season from which sugarcane yield starts. So winter is the season of fresh jaggery
Ways to adulterate Jaggery?
The best jaggery is that which is fresh i.e which is soft in temper and light in color. Now, packaged industry add additives to maintain its texture and stiffness.. How mean of them *grumy face*!
Where to get your Jaggery from?
No jaggery is made from sugar. It is made from sugarcane juice. Get the open/unpackaged one, from a local grocery shop. You can get the pure one in abundance from shops in a city that has sugar mills. Otherwise also, open, light in color, soft jaggery can be bought from a local grocer. Prefer to buy fresh in winters.
I am fasting today. I will have jaggery, coconut and milk kheer now
Love
Nidhi
Read other articles by the author HERE
