Coconut sugar, sometimes called coconut palm sugar, comes from the sap of the coconut palm tree not the coconuts. Harvesters tap coconut palm sap by cutting into the tree's flower-bud stem to access its nectar. Producers mix the sap with water, boil it into a syrup, and allow it to dry and crystallize. Afterward, they break the dried sap apart to create sugar granules that resemble regular table or cane sugar. Coconut sugar retains many nutrients found in the coconut palm mostly iron, zinc, calcium and potassium. These nutrients can support the body in numerous ways, but coconut sugar does not contain enough of them per serving to offer a measurable benefit. Coconut sugar also contains the soluble fiber inulin which is linked to a lower risk of blood sugar spikes. Available from Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Thailand.
