Panela

Panela: What it is and how to use it

Panela is obtained from sugar cane juice , which is boiled until it is thick and dark. Subsequently, this syrup is allowed to cool and solidifies. Once cooled, it can be ground into a relatively fine powder or sold in blocks. The result of this process is a completely natural and unrefined sugar. That means that panela contains all the nutrients naturally present in sugar cane. It is rich in carbohydrates (sucrose, glucose and fructose) so it provides us with a large amount of calories and energy. In addition, it is considered to have 5 times more minerals than brown sugar, and triples the amount exponentially compared to white sugar. Unlike refined sugar, panela stands out for its high content of vitamins and minerals such as: Vitamin A: essential for the development and growth of the body and to maintain healthy eyesight. Group B vitamins : necessary to obtain energy from the foods we eat and help form red blood cells. Vitamin C : vital for the growth and regeneration of our body's tissues (skin, muscles, cartilage and bones) and helps the absorption of iron. Vitamin D : necessary to properly absorb calcium and have good bone health. Vitamin E : it is related to fertility, since it helps the formation of eggs and sperm and acts as an antioxidant, preventing skin aging. Calcium : essential to maintain good bone health. Magnesium : vital for the proper functioning of muscles and to avoid fatigue and tiredness. Phosphorus : involved in bone formation and cell metabolism. Sodium : responsible for generating nerve impulses and maintaining blood pressure. Iron : vital to oxygenate the body. Lack of iron causes tiredness and fatigue. Potassium : helps the proper functioning of the nerves and helps nutrients reach all the cells in our body. This type of sugar, so nutritious and with great flavor, is very typical in Latin America and in Asian countries such as Laos, Pakistan, India or Sri Lanka where it is used to sweeten drinks, desserts, sweets, etc. Thus, with panela we can make all kinds of sweet recipes: desserts, cakes, cookies and even isotonic drinks that will help us remineralize the body after playing sports. As panela can be used as a substitute for refined white sugar, it will also be used to sweeten yogurts, infusions, smoothies, etc. It will give us a light caramel flavor in addition to the nutritional benefits that we have described above.

At Casa Perris you can find ground panela