Palm sap is the sap that is collected from many different species of palm tree like oil palm, coconut palm, raffia palm and date palm. It is cloudy white in colour and a bit sweet. It is fermented to alcohol after collection by natural yeast to yield the popular alcoholic beverage called palm wine.
Palm sap has a good nutrient profile like most natural
foods. Here are a few of the nutrients:
- Vitamins like B1, B2, B3, B6 and C.
- Minerals like magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, phosphorus.
- Carbohydrates in the form of sugars such as sucrose, glucose and fructose.
- The yeasts in the sap are good for eye health.
- Palm sap is low in glycemic index.
Palm sap can be used as a healthier sugar alternative for
diabetics and mineral source in nutrition. Palm sap will also ferment to
vinegar from palm wine if left for longer periods. This makes palm sap a good raw
material for organic vinegar. Palm sap can be drunk as a juice, used in making pap, cocktails,
juices, lemonades, smoothies etc.
I am writing about palm sap because some of us want an
alternative to sugar. This is a product that can be obtained everywhere that
palm trees grow. Addition of lime can stop the fermentation to wine. Pasteurization
can also stop the action of the yeasts. In some countries, palm syrup or sugar is made from the sap.
Let us know below or by email if you have something to ask
or share about palm sap, its products, nutritional value or uses. Follow on
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