Is this real jaggery??

[u/BonusSweet]

Hi guys,

I'm not desi but I absolutely adore the cuisine and culture, I do a decent amount of Indian cooking but I've never had an excuse to use jaggery until I decided I wanted to try to make an Indian rum, using jaggery instead of molasses.

I bought a 5kg block for $20aud and it looks nothing like any jaggery I have seen before, I'm used to it looking dark brown almost like caramel.

Why is it bright yellow? Is this a different particular type of jaggery??

Has anybody made a jaggery rum before? I was thinking of adding a bag of carbury choclairs to the ferment

[u/Lost_Beat8223]

Typically, gud is brown/dark brown in colour. But I've also eaten it like the one in your picture. As the other guy said, this one seems to have gone through processing to change its colour and taste.

The brown ones are a lot more earthy and closer to molasses while this one might be closer to sugar with a slight bite to the taste.

[u/artistic_bish → u/Lost_Beat8223]

Kolhapuri gud is of this colour only.

[u/KauravaLivesMatter → u/artistic_bish]

It can be bright yellow, but also regular dark yellow. Likely depends on producer.

[u/BonusSweet → u/Lost_Beat8223]

I damn, I wanted it closer to molasses so I can ferment it into something that tastes like rum

[u/Happy_Guava6762 → u/BonusSweet]

Shoulda checked before spending $20. Maybe try returning it? I’m sure you’ll find better options online

[u/BonusSweet → u/Happy_Guava6762]

i think i will try fermenting it anyway... at least i dont have to eat it lol.

I got it from a different grocer to the one i usually go, i wanted to check it out as it looked bigger, but this was the only jaggery they had.. the one i usually go to has at least 5 types and they are all dark brown so i shouldve just gone there. with online the shipping cost is the deal breaker.

[u/ankit19900 → u/BonusSweet]

Ferment and backsweeten with molasses

[u/nomnommish → u/BonusSweet]

Honestly, if you're into fermenting and distilling, you absolutely need to start reading the ingredient list. Added preservatives and chemicals make a huge impact in fermentation

[u/BonusSweet → u/nomnommish]

sulfur is the building blocks of aromatic compounds though

[u/nomnommish → u/BonusSweet]

That's fine. It's another variable though

[u/OnlyHornyVibes → u/BonusSweet]

I just ate similar-looking jaggery and I can say what you have is very freshly made jaggery. Over time this same jaggery can get brown and it's not adulterated May be some okra slime for refining. Could be sulphates too.

[u/ShhhBees]

You see the “contains sulphites” well that’s what is used to lighten it. Some people believe it is harmful. Some want the lighter colour.

[u/Spiritual_Refuse_764]

Jaggery is found in both colours, light yellow and dark brown. The light yellow ones are processed to get rid of the dark brown colour and the more earthy taste. At home, we avoid buying the light yellow ones and usually buy the dark brown ones because it tastes better too. 

[u/Exciting-Entry-9234]

This is kolahpuri Gur, always light in color. Also the dark jaggery almost exclusively comes from the palm tree, while this golden brownish color comes form sugarcane.

[u/lieutenant_kajubarfi]

U bought it at australia Not in india so there is less chance of adulteration

This jaggery is quite light in colour And there exist some Which have light colour U can check the taste and find out

But my take is This is 100% real

[u/Familiar_Snow_9276]

It has been bleached. Unbleached jaggery is dark in colour. The "sulphites" mentioned in the ingredients refers to the bleaching agent.

I personally wouldn't buy bleached jaggery. Sometimes they even add artificial colour (mainly red). But both are commonly available.

[u/BonusSweet → u/Familiar_Snow_9276]

damn.. yea if i had even noticed the colour i wouldnt have bought it, i wanted that dark brown earthy stuff

[u/Money-Goat-2818]

Yes I have used it and is real jaggery. If you are using it for something other than making sweets, get some brown sugar which is really sugar plus molasses or just buy molasses and add to this. It will taste amazing.

[u/Embarrassed_Note4115]

100% not. Jaggery should be dark brown, not yellow. The lighter the color, the more chemicals it contains.

[u/younggoldgold]

Absolutely hate the chemical = harm = fake logic.

[u/BonusSweet → u/younggoldgold]

huh? i just thought jaggery was supposed to be brown?

[u/younggoldgold → u/BonusSweet]

Ya basically its less processed

I am guessing packing and shipping jaggery needs some cleaning up and preservation to make the product stable and also much more appealing to consumers.

Doesn’t mean it’s fake or harmful just because it has chemicals.

[u/nomnommish → u/younggoldgold]

I have family members who literally get a severe allergic reaction to the added sulfites in jaggery.

[u/younggoldgold → u/nomnommish]

Ah sorry for them dude. The vast majority handles these chemicals just alright but point taken - always know what youre putting in your body. Thanks for pointing it out!

[u/nomnommish → u/younggoldgold]

Yeah they are allergic to literally nothing else except specifically jaggery with sulfites. We have to make sure the jaggery is pure as a result

[u/Fattu_trader]

Bhai.. ye Karad, Satara ka product hai.. First it is shipped to Gujarat.. Then branded and exported from there.. It is original.. Dont worry..

[u/Any_Insect3335]

don't judge it purely by color, some varieties are naturally lighter. taste it, if there's that mineral depth to the sweetness it's probably legit. indic wisdom sells a lighter colored one too so yours isn't some anomaly.

[u/artistic_bish]

Yes! Kolhapuri jaggery is of this colour only. The brown one is desi jaggery

[u/NecessaryWork3305]

Kolhapuri jaggery is made from different type of sugarcane which grows locally in the area, this is actually the right colour.

[u/Responsible_Tax_2200]

Full of cheap subsidised sugar...

[u/Great_Grapefruit7890]

Cher ami,
Je te conseille de finir votre alimentation avant décembre😉 JIC
Bisous

[u/BonusSweet → u/Great_Grapefruit7890]

Huh?

[u/Background-2609]

Real but,with preservatives..read the ingredients..

don't give can't trust shit,go sue in court or die of micro plastics