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Jaggery [JAG-uh-ree] n. Dark unrefined sugar used primarily in India.

Jaggery is a dark, coarse sugar that either comes in a very soft cake or in a larger, crumblier cone that has to be broken up before use. It can be made from either sugar cane or palm tree sap, and it has a dark, very intense flavor that gives depth and earthiness to the Indian sweets that contain it.

We like it as an alternative to brown sugar; it's less processed and carries more depth of flavor. Try it crumbled over oatmeal! It can be found in any Indian grocery, usually as a thick cake or cone wrapped in plastic.