Panela

Panela(Spanish pronunciation:[paˈnela]) orrapadura(Portuguese pronunciation:[ʁapaˈduɾɐ]) is an unrefinedwhole cane sugar, typical ofLatin America. It is a solid form ofsucrosederived from the boiling and evaporation ofsugarcanejuice.Panela is known by other names in Latin America, such aschancacain Chile, Bolivia, and Peru,piloncilloin Mexico (wherepanelarefers to a type of cheese,queso panela). Just like brown sugar, two varieties ofpiloncilloare available; one is lighter (blanco) and one darker (oscuro). Unrefined, it is commonly used in Mexico, where it has been around for at least 500 years. Made from crushed sugar cane, the juice is collected, boiled, and poured into molds, where it hardens into blocks. It is similar tojaggery, which is used in South Asia. Both are considerednon-centrifugal cane sugars.
Panela is sold in many forms, including liquid, granulated, and solid blocks, and is used in the canning of foods, as well as in confectionery, soft drinks, baking, and vinegar, beer, and winemaking.
The main producer of panela is Colombia (about 1.4 million tons/year),where panela production is one of the most importanteconomicactivities, with the highest index of panela consumptionper capitaworldwide. Panela is also produced inEcuador,Guatemala,Mexico,Panama,Peru,Chile,Venezuela, Brazil, andBolivia(where it is calledchankakaorempanizao).
In Colombia, the panela industry is an important source of employment, with about 350,000 people working in nearly 20,000trapiches(panela farms). In 2003, Colombian sugarcane contributed 4.2% of the value of agricultural production (not counting coffee) and 1.9% of national agricultural activity of that country. That year, it was ninth in contributions to production value.
Similarly, it represents 10.7% of the area for permanent crops and 6.2% of the total area cultivated in Colombia, sixth place among the country's crops, behind only coffee, corn, rice, bananas, and cotton. This product is produced predominantly in therural economy, the basic economy of 236 municipalities in 12 national departments.
An estimated 70,000 farm units cultivate sugarcane for mills, which generate more than 25 millionannually in wages, employing around 350,000 people, or 12% of the economically active rural population, making it the second-largest employer after agricultural coffee production.
Worldwide, the Colombians are the largest consumers of sugarcane, at more than 34.2 kg (75 lb) per capita. To the extent it is a low-cost sweetener with important contributions of minerals and trace amounts of vitamins, high intake occurs mainly in strata. Panela consumption represents 2.18% of expenditures on food and in some areas accounts for up to 9% of food expenditures in low-income sectors.
Panela was originally created as an easier way to transport sugar.
It is used to makechancaca. In Peru,chancacais used in typical food such aschampús,picarones,calabaza al horno, andmazamorracochina. InCosta Rica, it is used in preparations such astapa de dulceandagua de sapo. In Chile, it is used for sweetsopaipillas.
A very common use of panela in Colombia is foraguapanela, one of its most widely consumed beverages, and an important source of calories for working people, especially in rural areas.It is also used in the preparation ofguarapoand variousdesserts. Since it is a very solid block, some Colombian homes have a hard river stone (la piedra de la panela) to break the panela into smaller, more manageable pieces. Panela can be purchased in markets, local grocers, and online stores. In parts of coastal Colombia, it is also used forchancacas.
Known aspiloncilloin México, it is most often seen in the shape of small, truncated cones. Many Mexican desserts are made withpiloncillo, such asatole,capirotada,champurrado,andflan. It is also blended with different spices, such asanise,cayenne, orchocolate.
In the Philippines,panochaor in Tagalogpanutsá, is traditionally used as an ingredient forlatíkandkalamay, as well as a comfort food eaten straight.
In Venezuela, it is an essential ingredient for many typical recipes,although production of panela in the country dropped precipitously across the 20th century.
Panela manufacturers and advocates claim the substance to be healthier thanrefined sugar, suggesting it has immunological benefits, a lowerglycemic index, and highermicronutrientcontent.As the authors ofThe Ultimate Guide to Sugars and Sweetenerspoint out, "it's still sugar", with only a trace amount more vitamins and minerals, and little research to support other claims.