How To Make Fruit Jam With The Help Of Jaggery For Your Good Health?

Jam, a beloved spread for bread, toast, or a filling for pastries, is often made using sugar to achieve that sweet, irresistible taste. Traditional sugar, on the other hand, is not the healthiest thing to eat on a daily basis, especially for people who are trying to control their blood sugar or who want to eat a more natural, healthy diet. A great option is natural jaggery cubes, which are a natural sweetener made from sugarcane or palm sap. It is better for you because it is full of nutrients and has a lower glycemic index than refined sugar. If you want to enjoy fruit jam without compromising your health, using jaggery cubes instead of sugar can make all the difference.

We’ll talk about how to use jaggery cubes to make homemade fruit jam and the health benefits of this natural sweetener in this blog.

Why Is Jaggery Better Than Refined Sugar?

 Before we get to the dish, let’s briefly talk about why jaggery is a great sugar substitute:

Rich in Nutrients: Jaggery has many minerals that your body needs, like iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. It also has some enzymes and B vitamins, which sugar doesn’t have at all.

Helps in Digestion: In many countries, jaggery has been used for a long time to help with digestion. It helps the body make more digestive enzymes, which makes processing go more smoothly and cleans out the body.

Low Glycemic Index: Jaggery has a low glycemic index, which means it produces energy more slowly and doesn’t cause fast blood sugar spikes like refined sugar does. This makes it a better choice for people with diabetes or who need to keep an eye on their blood sugar.

Source of Natural Energy: Jaggery gives you energy slowly, unlike pure sugar, which makes you feel tired all of a sudden. This makes it a great choice for people who need to keep their energy up all day.

Cleaning out the body: Jaggery is known for its ability to help clean out the liver by getting rid of dangerous toxins. It’s also good for your lungs, so it’s a healthy way to improve your general health.

Anti-inflammatory Properties: Compounds in jaggery can help lower inflammation in the body, which could make the symptoms of conditions like arthritis easier to deal with.

With all of these benefits, it’s clear that using jaggery instead of sugar in your homemade jams can be better for you.

What You Need To Do To Make Fruit Jam With Jaggery:

Jam can be made from almost any kind of fruit. To make simple fruit jam, you’ll need the following things:

Fresh Fruit: Ripe fruits that are in season make the best jams. Mangoes, strawberries, apples, or mixed berries are all popular choices. Let’s use strawberries as an example, but the steps are easy to change for other fruits. We will use small jaggery cubes instead of refined sugar.

Lemon juice: This cuts down on the sweetness and gives the jam a little tartness. It also naturally keeps food fresh.

Water: This is what cooks the fruit and breaks down the jaggery.

You can choose to use: For extra taste, you can add spices like cinnamon, cloves, or cardamom. If you use fruits that already have enough pectin, like apples or berries, you don’t need to add pectin. But you can if you want the structure to be firmer.

How To Make Fruit Jam With Jaggery Cubes: Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Get the fruit ready:

First, wash the fruit really well to get rid of any dirt or chemicals. For even cooking, remove the strawberry’s shell and cut it into smaller pieces. If you need to, peel and chop other fruits, then do so.

2. Make the fruit cook:

Put the chopped fruit in a pan with a heavy bottom. Add just enough water to cover the fruit at the bottom of the pan. Use medium heat to cook the fruit. To keep the fruit from burning and to make sure it turns into a thick mush, stir it every so often. How long it takes to cook will depend on the fruit. It ought to take about 10 to 15 minutes for strawberries.

3. Put in small jaggery cubes:

You can add the jaggery once the fruit has gotten soft and started to break down into a jam-like consistency. For every 4 cups of fruit, use about ¾ to 1 cup of jaggery. Make sure to stir the mixture well so that the jaggery mixes in thoroughly.

4. Simmer until it gets thicker:

Keep moving the mixture every now and then while it simmers on low heat. It will get thicker as the jaggery melts and the fruit cooks down. You could change the texture by adding more water or less water to make it thicker. This step can take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, based on the fruit and the texture you want. Let the mix cook longer if you want a firmer jam.

5. Add lemon juice:

When the fruit mix gets thicker, add the lemon juice. This will not only make the jam taste better, but it will also help it last longer. Mix it well.

6. See if everything is the same:

Put a small amount of the jam on a plate and let it cool for a few minutes to see if it’s ready. Feel the jam with your finger. It’s done if it folds and doesn’t run. Keep cooking for a little longer if it’s still runny.

7. Keep cool and store:

When you think the jam is the right consistency, take it off the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Put the jam in a clean jar that won’t let air in and put it in the fridge. If you put this fresh fruit jam in the fridge, it should last up to two weeks.

How To Make The Best Jam:

• Use fresh, ripe fruits: The better the fruit, the sweeter the jam will be. Fruits that are fresh and in season taste the best.

• To taste, change the sweetness: Jaggery has a unique flavor, and the amount of sweetness can change. So, choose high-quality jaggery. We at Gwellth Food and Beverages provide the best quality jaggery cubes. As the jam cooks, check it and add more jaggery if you think it needs it.
• Make your own preservatives: Lemon juice not only helps keep foods fresh, but it also helps balance out tastes. Do you want your jam to last longer? You could add some salt or citric acid.
• Right way to store: Before you use them, make sure the jars are clean. This will help the jam stay fresh for longer.

Why Is Making Your Own Jaggery Jam A Good Idea For You?

Store-bought jams are often full of refined sugars, preservatives, and fake ingredients that are bad for your health. Making your own fruit jam with natural jaggery cubes has a number of health benefits:

• There are no additives or preservatives: You can be sure that homemade jam is made with pure fruit and sugar because it doesn’t have any added chemicals, preservatives, or colorants.
• Even more Nutrients: Because you used fresh fruits and sugar, your jam will have a lot more nutrients than store-bought jams, which usually lose vitamins and minerals during processing.
• Control Over How Sweet It Is: By adjusting the amount of sugar used, you can make sure that the jam is not too sweet and suits your tastes.
• Digesting Food Better: Using jaggery helps your digestion, while processed sugar can make stomach problems like bloating and indigestion worse.

CONCLUSION:
A simple, tasty, and healthy way to enjoy your favorite spreads is to make fruit jam with jaggery cubes. It’s full of nutrients, doesn’t have any artificial sweeteners, and has a naturally rich, deep taste that you can change to your liking. So, the next time you want fruit jam, don’t buy it from the store. Instead, use fresh fruit and small jaggery cubes to make your own. By choosing this natural, nutrient-dense sugar, you’ll not only enjoy a healthy treat, but it will also be good for your health.

FAQs:

Question 1. Why should I make fruit jam with jaggery instead of sugar?

Answer: Jaggery is a natural sweetener that is better for you than refined sugar because it keeps more nutrients like iron, calcium, and magnesium. It also gives the jam a thick, caramel-like taste.

Question 2. What kinds of fruits can I use to make jam with jaggery?

Answer: Mangoes, strawberries, apples, and guavas are just a few of the fruits that can be used. To balance the taste, you need to pick ripe, sweet fruits.

Question 3. How long will the jam last?

Answer: When put in a jar that doesn’t let air in, the jam can last up to two to three weeks in the fridge. You can try cleaning the jars before putting them away to make them last longer.

Question 4. Is jam made with jaggery better for you than normal jam?

Answer: Yes! It is less processed than refined sugar and has more nutrients and fiber, so jaggery is a better choice for people who want a healthy option.

Question 5. Can I make all kinds of jams with jaggery?

Answer: Yes, jaggery can be used in most fruit jams. However, it works best with fruits that are naturally sweet or slightly sour.