Getting to Know Coconut Palm Sugar vs. Arenga Palm Sugar

It's easy to confuse coconut sugar with arenga sugar. Arenga sugar is derived from the arenga pinnata tree. Filipinos call the fruit "kaong"--most likely derived from the Indonesian word "kolang-kaling". Both coconut sugar and arenga sugar are commonly palm sugar. However, knowing the difference between them. I tasted Tealive Philippines' limited coconut brown sugar. I tasted their trademark arenga sugar (read here) and the recent coconut brown sugar.

What's the difference between them? Here's an interesting contrast between coconut palm sugar and arenga palm sugar:

Sugar vs Arenga – Coconut sugar and arenga sugar are tropical Asia palms. They come from a palm tree family. Despite coming from the same family, it doesn’t mean that they are the same. They are actually different even most people often mistake these two plants as the same.

Coconut sugar is a sugar product from coconut tree sap. It is harvested by tapping the flower sap coconut tree. It is the same tree we usually find at the beach. The farmers climb and harvest the flower sap. This sap is the main ingredient in producing coconut sugar.

While Arenga granule sugar is sugar that is produced from arenga tree sap. It comes from the trunks of the palm. Arenga has unique and different fruit from coconut, it is smaller and people usually use these fruits to make snacks. Farmers harvest the sap from the trunks of palm tree, then they make it into arenga granule sugar.

What about the flavor?

If you are aiming the taste, coconut sugar has a softer taste and aroma than arenga. The taste butterscotch caramel taste in coconut sugar makes it softer than arenga. While the arenga has a stronger taste and aroma. That is why the arenga granule is suitable for making coffee or garnish.

Furthermore, it all depends on your choice. Who is the best? Coconut Sugar vs Arenga. The best product is a product that we use according to the recipe and the dose.

The difference spotted is that coconut brown sugar tastes more like butterscotch caramel. It almost takes like Filipino coconut caramel called latik. Latik is made from coconut milk. The taste is nearly identical. I almost thought of my favorite Filipino desserts drizzled in latik. If anything, I was tempted to call coconut brown sugar caramel a different type of latik.

Wanting Wealth WITHOUT Financial Discipline

Many people want to be rich, but not so many people want the discipline on how to be rich. Isn't that the plain hard truth ? As I do this sideline blog , I contemplated whether I should write another post after writing several posts years back, or when I wrote about Venezuela as a cautionary tale . Back on topic, I thought about how financial discipline is something often overlooked. It's easy to talk about Christmas since that's probably the most wonderful time of the year to be spendthrift , only to find out that one's broke by the New Year . The cycle of reckless financial habits tends to restart in January, even when January becomes that time of reckoning between debtors and creditors! January 2026 will end, February 2026 comes, and then the cycle of financial recklessness continues. It's the same cycle over and over! Last Christmas, I remember how DTI Secretary Christina Roque spoke about the PHP 500.00 noche buena, for a family of four . I called it tactless b...

The Philippines will NEVER Get Richer by Blaming Its Richer Asian Neighbors

Gemini AI Updated: September 27, 2025 It would be nice to talk about the typical blame game in the Philippines. I could remember that, as a child and a teenager, I had this habit of blaming people I disliked for my failing an exam. The reasons are mostly imagined. What I remembered in my later college years was when I met a couple of super irresponsible students. They had this attitude to say something like, "My parents don't care if it'll take me 20 years to finish my bachelor's degree." Some people even say something like, "It's the fault of the rich that we are poor." It was a backfire when I told such people, "Isn't it any wonder why your finances are down? It's because your parents don't even value the money when they don't care if it'll take up to 20 years to finish college!" Understanding the blame game and why it feels so good Psychology Today presents this on why some people will always blame others . These fin...

Venezuela as a Cautionary Tale on #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba, Nationalistic Pride, Welfare State Economics

The Sunday Guardian Years ago, I wrote about Venezuela's pride and protectionism , under a more "formal" style of writing compared to my latest posts. I decided to use an even "less formal" and "less academic" tone since I'm not writing a term paper. Instead, it's like how a professor and a student discuss the thesis using first person over third person, using contractions, etc., while the thesis doesn't use such tones. Back on track, I thought about the arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro can spark debate. Was it a violation of sovereignty? I'm no expert on international law. However, Venezuelans can be seen celebrating Maduro's arrest. Right now, I'm using Gemini AI and Google search to help me find some sources for this blog. It's because I don't want my blog to become another gossip central, but a place to discuss facts with my own personal opinions (making sure they don't derail the facts). I used Venezuela ...

Helping Others is Good But Not to One's Own Expense

I advocate for helping others. I believe in helping others but there were times I overdid it. One time, I gave up so much that I had to be stopped. I was told, "If you gave everything now, how can you help others later?" I would donate some sums here and there, without thinking much. I'm not going to write them all. Some of them left me good while others left a bad taste (and a bad record) for me to endure. Sure, I want to help people but I tend to overlook the consequences. Some of the bad habits I had in the name of helping others are like: Being too generous with buying with credit. Eventually, I lost a lot of money which was never recovered . Some seasoned entrepreneurs may admit their own falls including the credit trap pitfall. Being too willing to give a discount without thinking about how it'd affect profits. Sure, a cheap price can draw people near. However, there are times when the prices of goods and services need to be raised to keep a business running. I ...

Is the Philippines About to Checkmate South Korea as Jollibee is About to Get 70% of Compose Coffee's Equity?

Yes, you read it right--Jollibee is set to acquire 70% of the shares of South Korean coffee brand Compose Coffee. This is an excerpt from the Philippine Star Global : JFC’s wholly owned subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) is set to acquire majority shareholding of 70 percent in Compose Coffee Co. Ltd. and JMCF Co. Ltd., collectively called Compose Coffee, for approximately $340 million . Titan Dining II LP and Elevation Equity Partners Korea Limited will hold the remaining shareholdings in Compose Coffee with effective interest of five percent and 25 percent, respectively. Through JWPL, JFC has a 90 percent participating interest in Titan Fund II , which is focused on strategic investments in food and beverage concepts with the objective to further grow in Asia Pacific food service brands and bring strong global food service brands to the region. It's effortless to start the cheer and dance when a Filipino company opens abroad. This is a meme by the CoRRECT Movement on F...

Business & Economics Perspective Blogger

Search This Blog