​Easy tips to check the purity of jaggery

Winter is here and it is time to make the most of this season by indulging in some homemade sweet delicacies made with jaggery. There’s no denying that jaggery has been a quintessential part of Indian cuisine so much so that jaggery and its extracts are extensively used in making winter desserts as it is the most loved alternative to refined sugar. But are you using pure jaggery? Here’s all you need to know about the adulterants in jaggery and how to identify them at home.
Why jaggery?
In India, winter delicacies are incomplete without this traditional sweetener–Jaggery. Interestingly, jaggery is usually prepared non-commercially, which often makes way for insects, pathogens and adulterants to impact the quality of jaggery. Here are some common tips and tricks to identify the purity of jaggery at home and also identify the presence of adulterants in jaggery.
Sugars
Adulteration with cane sugar is common. Real jaggery has a distinct taste, so if it tastes unusually sweet or lacks the characteristic molasses flavor, it might be adulterated.
Starch
Mixing jaggery with starch is another practice. Dissolve a small amount of jaggery in water; if it leaves behind a residue, it may contain added starch.

Mineral Oil
Addition of oil gives the jaggery a smooth texture and adds shine, but this degrades the quality of jaggery. The easiest way to check this is by rubbing a small amount of jaggery between your fingers; if it feels oily or leaves a greasy residue chances of adulteration with mineral oil are high.
Artificial Colors
Jaggery is naturally dark brown. If the color seems unusually vibrant or different, it might have artificial colors.

Chemical Additives
Check for a chemical or off-putting smell. Real jaggery has a sweet, earthy aroma, and any chemical smell could indicate adulteration.
Presence of Impurities
Genuine jaggery may contain small particles or fibrous matter from sugarcane. Excessive impurities or unexpected particles may suggest adulteration.

Consistency
Pure jaggery has a consistent texture. If it feels excessively hard or soft, it might be adulterated with substances like rock salt or gypsum.
Dissolvability
Authentic jaggery dissolves easily in water, leaving minimal residue. If it leaves behind a gritty or sandy residue, it may contain impurities.
Smell
Authentic jaggery has a distinct, sweet, and earthy aroma. It should not have any unpleasant or chemical smells. If it smells different or pungent, it may not be pure.
Taste
Real jaggery has a unique, rich, molasses-like flavor. It should not taste overly sweet or have a metallic aftertaste. If it lacks the characteristic taste, it might be impure.