Nattu Sakkarai (Country Sugar): What It Is and How to Use It

Nattu Sakkarai is sugarcane juice dried and crystallised without the chemical refining that strips white sugar of everything except sweetness. It has been the everyday sweetener in Tamil kitchens for centuries — in morning coffee, in kolukattai, in payasam — and it is making a quiet return as more people read ingredient labels and ask what they're actually eating.

What Is Nattu Sakkarai?

Nattu Sakkarai is unrefined cane sugar — sugarcane juice that is boiled, stirred until it crystallises, and then dried. No bleaching, no chemical filtration, no anti-caking agents. The result is a coarse golden-brown crystal with a mild molasses undertone.

Regional names for the same thing:

• Tamil: நாட்டு சக்கரை (Nattu Sakkarai)
• Telugu: నాటు చక్కెర (Naatu Chakkera)
• Kannada: ನಾಟಿ ಸಕ್ಕರೆ (Naati Sakkare)
• Malayalam: നാടൻ പഞ്ചസാര (Naadan Panjasaara)
• Hindi: देसी चीनी / कच्ची चीनी (Desi Cheeni / Kacchi Cheeni)
• English: Country Sugar / Unrefined Cane Sugar / Raw Cane Sugar

It is not the same as jaggery (which is block-form and has a stronger molasses flavour), not the same as palm jaggery (which comes from palm sap, not sugarcane), and not the same as brown sugar sold in supermarkets (which is usually white sugar with molasses added back). Nattu Sakkarai is its own category.

How Nattu Sakkarai Differs from White Sugar

White sugar is refined through a multi-stage process that removes molasses, then bleaches the crystals using phosphoric acid, sulphur dioxide, or bone char filtration. What remains is pure sucrose — energy with nothing else. Nattu Sakkarai skips that process entirely.

Why Tamil Households Have Used It for Generations

In traditional Tamil cooking, Nattu Sakkarai was the only sugar that existed. It was used in temple prasadam, in postpartum foods prepared for new mothers, in the first solid foods given to children at the annaprasanam ceremony, and in everyday filter coffee. The preference was practical, not philosophical — it was what local sugarcane farms produced before industrial refining arrived.

That cultural continuity matters. When your grandmother's payasam recipe calls for "sakkarai," she means Nattu Sakkarai, not white sugar. Using white sugar in its place changes not just the flavour but the texture of the dish — Nattu Sakkarai caramelises differently and dissolves more slowly, which affects how sweets set.

What Nattu Sakkarai Contains

Because the molasses is not removed, Nattu Sakkarai retains small amounts of the minerals naturally present in sugarcane juice — including calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. The quantities are modest; this is still primarily a sugar and should be used as one. But compared to white sugar, which contains essentially nothing beyond sucrose, the retention of even trace minerals is meaningful over daily use.

It also retains a small amount of natural plant compounds that are destroyed during high-heat industrial refining.

Nattu Sakkarai and Blood Sugar

Nattu Sakkarai has a lower glycaemic index than white sugar because the molasses content slightly slows sucrose absorption. However, it is still a sugar — it raises blood glucose and should be used in moderation. For a detailed look at traditional sweeteners and blood sugar management, read our article on whether Karupatti is good for diabetics. Consult your doctor before making dietary changes if you manage blood sugar.

How to Use Nattu Sakkarai in Cooking

Nattu Sakkarai is a 1:1 substitute for white sugar by weight in most recipes, with two things to keep in mind: it has a mild caramel undertone that enhances traditional sweets, and it dissolves slightly more slowly than fine white sugar.

Filter Coffee and Tea

Use 1–2 teaspoons per cup, exactly as you would use white sugar. The caramel note pairs well with dark roast filter coffee decoction. Stir for a few extra seconds — it dissolves fully, just not instantly.

Payasam and Kheer

Substitute 1:1 by weight. Add it after reducing the milk, not at the start, so the caramelisation doesn't compete with the milk solids. For a 500 ml milk payasam, use 80–100 g Nattu Sakkarai depending on preferred sweetness.

Kolukattai and Kozhukattai

For the jaggery-coconut filling (pooranam), Nattu Sakkarai mixed with fresh coconut gives a lighter, less intense sweetness than block jaggery — good if you find traditional pooranam too sweet. Use 3 tablespoons for every 1 cup of grated coconut.

Baking

Replace white sugar 1:1 in cakes, cookies, and banana bread. Expect a slightly darker crumb and a mild toffee note in the baked good — both are improvements in most traditional Indian bakes. Because of the trace moisture in the molasses, reduce any other liquid slightly (about 1 teaspoon per cup of sugar used).

Everyday Substitution Ratio

1 cup white sugar = 1 cup Nattu Sakkarai (by volume). If using by weight: exactly equal — no adjustment needed.

Storage

Store in an airtight glass or ceramic jar away from moisture. Because Nattu Sakkarai retains natural molasses, it can absorb humidity and clump. If it clumps, break it up with a fork — it hasn't spoiled. Shelf life in a dry, airtight container is 12–18 months. Do not refrigerate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nattu Sakkarai the same as brown sugar?

No. Commercial brown sugar is white sugar with molasses stirred back in after refining. Nattu Sakkarai is sugarcane juice that was never refined in the first place — the molasses was never removed. The two are different products with different flavour profiles and processing histories.

Can I use Nattu Sakkarai in place of jaggery?

In most recipes, yes — but with a flavour difference. Jaggery has a stronger, more intense molasses flavour. Nattu Sakkarai is milder and closer to white sugar in taste, so it works better in recipes where you want a background caramel note rather than a dominant jaggery character. For a direct side-by-side, see our sweetener comparison guide.

Is Nattu Sakkarai good for children?

It is a reasonable substitute for white sugar in children's food — fewer additives, trace minerals retained. That said, it is still sugar and should be used in age-appropriate amounts. For infants under 1 year, avoid all added sugars. Consult your paediatrician before introducing new foods.

What does "Sweetit" mean on your Nattu Sakkarai?

"Sweetit" is the product name for Theerthaa's Nattu Sakkarai — it is traditionally processed country sugar without additives or bleaching.

Does Nattu Sakkarai dissolve in cold water?

Slowly. For cold drinks or smoothies, dissolve it in a small amount of warm water first and then add to your cold liquid. It fully dissolves with stirring — it just takes longer than fine white sugar.

Shop Natural Sweeteners from Theerthaa

The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your doctor before making dietary changes.