Palmyra Neera and Karupatti Palm Jaggery of Tamil Nadu

Palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer) tapping for neera sap is a traditional livelihood for Nadar toddy-tapper communities in coastal Tamil Nadu, particularly in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari districts. The sap is collected at dawn from the inflorescence by trained male climbers using clay pots. Fresh neera is sweet, non-alcoholic, and highly nutritious, being rich in minerals and B vitamins. If left unprocessed, it ferments to become toddy (kallu) within a few hours. When boiled and reduced, the sap produces karupatti (palm jaggery) and panankarkandu (palm candy crystals). Palmyra jaggery has lower glycaemic index than sugarcane jaggery and is used in traditional Siddha medicine. The Tamil Nadu Toddy Tappers Federation and TAHDCO cooperative support certified tapping communities. GI status for Thoothukudi Karupatti was awarded. Young palmyra leaves are woven into baskets and fans as an additional income source.