Jaggery (also transliterated as jaggeree), guṛ (North India) and panela (South America), is a traditional unrefined non-centrifugal sugar consumed in Asia and South America. This type of sugar is a concentrated product of cane juice without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can vary from golden brown to dark brown in color.

We use Jaggery a lot in South India in a lot of sweets and desserts. This is a much healthier substitute to sugar and it tastes really good. In some parts of India, it is added to sambar, resam and other gravies which are staples in India. Jaggery is also eaten just like that. As a kid, we loved eating jaggery just like that. Jaggery is a rich source of iron due to the process involved, using iron utensils. It is considered by some to be a particularly wholesome sugar and, unlike refined sugar, it retains more mineral salts. Moreover, the process does not involve chemical agents. Indian Ayurvedic medicine considers jaggery to be beneficial in treating throat and lung infections.

Turmeric is used a lot in Indian cooking, as an antiseptic and as a Cosmetic product as well. Turmeric is of the ginger family.

Culinary Use:

The roots are boiled for several hours and then dried in hot ovens, after which they are ground into a deep orange-yellow powder commonly used as a spice in indian curries. Turmeric is used in baked products, dairy products, ice cream, curd (yogurt), biscuits, sweets, cake icings, sauces etc. It is a significant ingredient in most commercial curry powders. Turmeric is used in savory dishes, not sweet ones.

Medicinal Use:

In Ayurvedic practices, turmeric is thought to have many medicinal properties and many in South Asia use it as a readily available antiseptic for cuts, burns and bruises. My mom has used it for us a lot and we use it for our kids a lot as well…It works like magic especially for swellings. Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine say it has fluoride which is thought to be essential for teeth. It is also used as an antibacterial agent. It is taken in some Asian countries as a dietary supplement, which allegedly helps with stomach problems and other ailments.

Cosmetic Use:

Turmeric is currently used in the formulation of some sunscreens. Turmeric paste is used by some Indian women to keep them free of superfluous hair. Turmeric paste is applied to bride and groom before marriage in some places of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, where it is believed turmeric gives glow to skin and keeps some harmful bacteria away from the body.