Hasslacher's Colombian Chocolate

HASSLACHER’S PANELA

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Hasslacher’s Organic Panela is the perfect sweetener to use in place of conventional refined sugar in the household. Made on our sustainable Colombian family run farm El Salto, it is the only sugar where the sugar stream is not separated from the molasses – this helps it to retain most of its essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Basically it is simply pure cane juice that is boiled down and reduced into a thick consistency and then poured into solid square moulds. Its unique processing gives it a mild, caramel-like flavor which is superb for sweetening food and drinks and baking and a multitude of other dishes and deserts.

It contains the natural goodness of minerals and vitamins inherently present in sugarcane juice but totally stripped out of refined sugar, crowning it as one of the most wholesome and healthy sugars in the world. Panela is produced in other parts of South America and known under the names – Chancaca, Raspadura, Piloncillo and Panocha. Panela production represents 6.2% of the total cultivated land in Colombia. It’s produced predominantly in rural areas and is important to Colombia as it employs more than 350,000 people, or 12% of the economically active rural population, making it the second largest for employment after agricultural coffee production.

How to use Organic Panel in the Kitchen

Hasslacher’s organic panela is a versatile ingredient for use at home. Try the famous ‘Agua de Panela’ Colombia’s national chilled drink for sweltering hot days. Use freshly squeezed limes and some pulverized panela and blend together with lots of crushed ice. Panela is a natural and healthier form of sweetener to use in place of other sugars. It can be used for baking delicious cakes, muffins or flapjacks and gives a very different wholesome flavor over other sugars. Simply sprinkle on porridge or use in hot chocolate for the ultimate flavour. You can even experiment with cocktails using rum, limes or passion fruit and it is fantastic for making Caiparinhas and Mojitos.

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