Martin Yan - PALM SUGAR

"The more you understand the ingredients, the better cook you will become."
-Martin Yan

These are common ingredients found in local cuisine. You can find these ingredients readily available in your local supermarket.

PALM SUGAR

In Western cooking, cane sugar sweetens foods; in Southeast Asia, palm sugar is the basic sweetener. To obtain palm sugar, sap is tapped from various palm trees, collected, and boiled down to a thick syrup which is then poured into bamboo pipe molds. The thick, sticky bamboo-shaped cakes are maple brown to deep brown in color and coarse and crumbly in texture. Palm sugar adds a smooth, rich sweetness to foods.

Palm sugar, also known as coconut sugar, is mainly used to balance strong flavors. It compliments spicy, salty and sour tastes which are common flavors in Southeast Asian cuisines. Although the flavor will not be as rich or intense, dark brown sugar can be substituted for palm sugar.

Palm sugar is available in plastic packages. Transfer the contents of an opened package to a tightly sealed container and store in a cool, dry place. It will keep for several months.