S Panchanathan Stores
In this article4 parts
Quick answer
Sugar is cheapest and neutral in taste; jaggery gives a caramel sweetness to pongal and payasam; palm candy and karupatti are the traditional choices for coffee, sukku malli and remedies, and cost the most per kg.
- All four are mostly sugar; none is a health food.
- Jaggery and karupatti keep a little iron and minerals that white sugar loses.
- Use the one that suits the dish, in small amounts.
Four sweeteners compared
White sugarSeeni
FlavourCost
Best for: tea, coffee, baking; dissolves fast with no taste of its own
JaggeryVellamFOR SWEETS
FlavourCost
Best for: sakkarai pongal, payasam, adhirasam, pori urundai
Palm candyPanakarkandu
FlavourCost
Best for: warm milk, sukku malli coffee, sore throats at home
KarupattiPalm jaggery
FlavourCost
Best for: karupatti coffee, sweets with a smoky, deep taste
Our prices per kg today
| Item | Our price | Per kg |
|---|---|---|
 Organic India Jaggery Powder 500g | ₹80 | ₹160 |
 Rajam Palm Candy (பனங்கற்கண்டு) 100g | ₹105 | ₹1,050 |
| Rajam Palmyrah Palm Candy (Pankarkandu) 100g | ₹57 | ₹570 |
Is jaggery healthier than sugar?
Jaggeryunrefined
or- Keeps small amounts of iron and minerals
- Still mostly sugar, similar calories
- Not a cure for anaemia
White sugarrefined
- Almost pure sugar
- Neutral taste, cheapest
- Easy to measure and dissolve
Shop tip
If you have diabetes, jaggery, palm candy and karupatti raise blood sugar much like white sugar. Count them the same way.
Questions people ask
Can I use jaggery instead of sugar in tea?
Yes, but add it after the milk is off the heat or the milk may curdle; the taste changes too.
What is the difference between palm candy and karupatti?
Both come from palm sap. Palm candy is crystallised and light; karupatti is a dark, solid block with a smoky taste.
Why does jaggery become hard or sticky?
Moisture. Keep it in an airtight jar; in humid months, in the fridge.
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