Palm sugar, also known as coconut sugar or palm honey, is a sweetener made from the sap found in palm flowers, which is boiled and reduced to a thick, dry consistency. The sugar is tan to light brown in color and often sold in the form of a solid cone or brick shape, though sometimes it's sold as a bag of granules.

One of the main reasons folks seek out palm sugar is that it's much lower than refined white sugar on the glycemic index: palm sugar's glycemic index is 35, while white sugar has an index of 68. The rich, slightly nutty flavor of the palm-based sweetener also makes it a flavorful, yet healthier option for cooking and baking.