The jaggery available in the market is not always pure and often contains adulterants, chemicals, or artificial colors to make it look brighter. While this might preserve the taste, it hurts health. Especially if you use jaggery in porridge, halwa, tea, or traditional Indian sweets, adulterated jaggery provides less nutrition and more harm. Therefore, the best way to avoid adulterated jaggery is to learn how to make pure jaggery at home. This not only ensures the jaggery is pure and clean but also that it is rich in essential nutrients like iron and magnesium.

The most important ingredient for making pure jaggery at home is fresh sugarcane juice. If you can get fresh juice directly from a sugarcane factory or juice vendor near you, that's ideal. First, take the fresh juice in a jar or bucket and strain it through a fine cloth to remove any dirt, twigs, or soil particles. Now, pour the strained sugarcane juice into a heavy-bottomed pan and start heating it over low heat. As the juice heats up, foam will form, which is a mixture of impurities and froth. This should be continuously removed with a spoon to ensure the jaggery has a clean color and better quality.

As it cooks over low heat, the juice gradually thickens and becomes like syrup. You can test its consistency from time to time. Simply take a small bowl of cold water and drop a drop of the syrup into it. If it spreads, cook it a little longer. But when the drop feels firm when pressed between your fingers and doesn't spread, you know the jaggery is ready. At this point, turn off the gas and pour the prepared mixture into a plate that has been lightly greased with ghee or oil. After spreading the syrup mixture on the plate, let it cool down.

Once cooled, the mixture solidifies, and you can cut it into pieces of your desired size and use it. This homemade jaggery is natural in color, has a natural aroma, and a rich, deep flavor, making it far superior to the adulterated jaggery available in the market. Pure jaggery not only provides sweetness but also keeps the body warm, aids digestion, and helps address problems like iron deficiency.

The process of making jaggery at home requires a little patience, but once you understand its benefits, the effort will seem entirely worthwhile. Moreover, this method eliminates the need for store-bought, adulterated jaggery and allows you to make fresh jaggery whenever you need it. If you use it in tea, halwa, kheer, paratha, or any other sweet dish, you'll immediately notice the difference – the taste will be better, and your health will benefit as well.

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