Real vs. Fake Jaggery: How to Identify Pure Jaggery in Winter Market

• Winter markets are flooded with adulterated jaggery due to demand exceeding pure date juice supply.
• Adulterants include sugarcane juice, starch, and oils to alter taste, texture, or increase volume.
• To detect starch, dissolve jaggery in water; impurities settling at the bottom indicate adulteration.
• Chemicals are used for reddish-golden color or aroma; transparent, crystal-like grains suggest excessive chemicals.
• Smell is an unreliable indicator as chemicals mimic natural aroma; tasting a small piece is recommended for real jaggery.

Why It Matters: It empowers you to identify genuine jaggery and avoid fake products.