Sugaring your palms

I'm not sure if that's the correct term, but many plants are tapped for their sugary sap: sugar maples, agaves, and so are palms.

Which palms are used for sugar? Which are made into syrup or fermented?

  • Chilean wine palms. The process is very destructive. The whole tree is cut down to obtain syrup.
  • Canary Island palms. According to this article, "La Gomera, the Culture of the Palm", the palm was used for liquor at least as far back as 1590. Trees are tapped and then they are allowed to recover for 5 years before tapping again. 
  • Caryota urens ( solitary fishtail palm, toddy palm, wine palm, jaggery palm) (wikipedia). This is one odd-looking palm. The flower, the main stem of the inflorescence is used to tap the sap. It is used for sugar, or as you might guess from its names, or for alcohol. The sap can be obtained from the trunk as well, but this is harder on the palm.
  • Sabal bermudana. Bibby palm.
  • probably more!



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