Is it Okay to Put Jaggery in Tea? All Your Questions Answered

January 12, 2026 •

4 min read

Jaggery, an unrefined sugar made from sugarcane or palm sap, has been used for centuries as a natural sweetener in many parts of Asia and Africa. Given its reputation as a healthier alternative to refined sugar, many tea drinkers wonder, "is it okay to put jaggery in tea?". The answer is yes, provided you understand the proper technique and weigh its nutritional differences against its high-calorie content.

Quick Summary

Using jaggery in tea is acceptable and can offer more nutrients than refined sugar, but it must be added correctly to prevent curdling, especially with milk. Proper timing and technique are crucial for achieving a smooth texture and enjoying its distinct flavor.

Key Points

Curdling Prevention: To stop milk tea from curdling, add jaggery after turning off the heat or dissolve it in a separate decoction before combining with hot milk.
Nutrient-Rich Alternative: Jaggery is a healthier sweetener than refined sugar because it retains minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium during minimal processing.
Distinct Flavor Profile: Jaggery adds a warm, earthy, and complex caramel-like taste to tea, unlike the one-dimensional sweetness of white sugar.
Moderation is Key: Despite its nutritional benefits, jaggery is still a calorie-dense sugar. Excessive consumption can lead to weight gain and blood sugar spikes, especially for diabetics.
Aids Digestion: In traditional practice, jaggery is known to help stimulate digestive enzymes and can be consumed in small amounts after meals.
Boosts Immunity: The antioxidants and minerals found in jaggery, often combined with spices in chai, can help support the immune system.

Understanding Jaggery and Its Role in Tea

Jaggery, known by various names such as 'gur' or 'gud,' is produced by boiling concentrated sugarcane juice or palm sap until it solidifies. Unlike highly processed white sugar, which consists of empty calories, jaggery retains some of its molasses and micronutrients, including iron, magnesium, and potassium. This has made it a popular choice for those seeking a more natural sweetener for their tea. The warm, caramel-like flavor of jaggery adds a distinct, earthy richness to tea that many find more complex and satisfying than refined sugar.

How to Prevent Curdling When Adding Jaggery to Milk Tea

One of the most common issues people face is that jaggery curdles milk tea. This is due to the inherent acidity and minerals in jaggery, which can cause the milk's proteins to coagulate when exposed to high heat. To avoid this, it is essential to use the correct technique. Here are two foolproof methods:

The Two-Pot Method: This traditional approach involves preparing the jaggery-sweetened tea decoction and the milk separately. First, boil water with tea leaves and jaggery until the jaggery dissolves completely. Separately, heat the milk until it is hot but not boiling. Combine the two liquids by pouring the sweetened tea into the hot milk, not the other way around.
The Off-Heat Method: For a simpler approach, bring your milk tea to a boil as you normally would. Turn off the heat and wait for the tea's temperature to drop slightly before adding the jaggery powder or grated jaggery. Stir until it dissolves and serve immediately. This prevents the shock of adding jaggery to extremely hot milk, which causes curdling.

Health Benefits and Considerations

While often hailed as a healthier alternative, it is important to view jaggery with a balanced perspective. It offers more nutritional value than refined sugar, but it is still a source of calories and carbohydrates and should be consumed in moderation.

Immunity Boost: Jaggery, often paired with ginger and spices in chai, contains antioxidants and minerals like zinc and selenium that can help boost immunity, particularly during winter.
Aids Digestion: Traditionally, a small piece of jaggery is consumed after a meal to aid digestion. Its stimulating properties can help prevent issues like constipation.
Provides Warmth: Especially popular in colder regions and during the winter, jaggery is known to have a warming effect on the body, providing comfort and helping to regulate body temperature.
Mineral Source: It contains small amounts of essential minerals such as iron, magnesium, and potassium, which are largely absent in refined sugar.

Jaggery vs. Sugar: A Sweet Comparison

Choosing between jaggery and refined sugar for your tea involves understanding their core differences. The table below outlines the key distinctions to help you make an informed decision.


Feature	Jaggery	Refined White Sugar
Processing	Minimally processed; retains molasses	Highly processed; stripped of nutrients
Nutrients	Contains iron, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants	Contains only empty calories
Flavor	Rich, earthy, caramel-like with molasses undertones	Purely sweet, one-dimensional flavor
Curdling Risk	High risk with milk if boiled together; requires careful handling	No risk of curdling milk
Glycemic Index (GI)	Lower GI than refined sugar, leading to a slower energy release	Higher GI, causing rapid blood sugar spikes
Overall Health	Considered a healthier alternative when consumed moderately	Linked to health issues when consumed in excess

Risks and Precautions

Despite the benefits, there are risks to consider when adding jaggery to your tea. As with any sweetener, moderation is key. Overconsumption can lead to weight gain due to its high-calorie content. For individuals with diabetes, while it has a lower GI, it is still sugar and can cause blood sugar spikes; portion control and consultation with a healthcare provider are vital. Furthermore, unrefined jaggery, particularly from less reputable sources, can sometimes contain impurities or contaminants, so it is important to purchase from trusted and hygienic suppliers.

Conclusion

It is perfectly acceptable and can be a delicious, more nutritious choice to put jaggery in tea, as long as it is done correctly. By using methods that prevent curdling, you can avoid a split beverage while enjoying the rich, earthy flavor and mineral content that jaggery provides over refined sugar. While not a cure-all, and still requiring mindful consumption due to its sugar content, switching to jaggery offers a warm, traditional, and flavorful way to sweeten your cup.

The Final Sweet Sip

Embrace the art of crafting jaggery tea, and you'll find it can be a simple, rewarding change. Remember to always add it to a cup after boiling or to a separate decoction, and enjoy the unique, wholesome taste it brings. For those managing specific health conditions like diabetes or obesity, it is best to discuss consumption with a dietitian.

Learn more about the health differences between jaggery and sugar at Healthline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jaggery curdles milk tea because it is naturally acidic and contains minerals that cause milk proteins to coagulate, especially when added directly to boiling milk.

Yes, jaggery is considered a healthier alternative because it is less processed and retains more nutrients and minerals, such as iron and magnesium, than refined white sugar.

Individuals with diabetes should consume jaggery in moderation. While its glycemic index is lower than white sugar, it can still cause blood sugar fluctuations. It is best to consult a doctor or dietitian.

You can prevent curdling by either boiling the tea and jaggery separately before adding hot milk, or by adding the jaggery powder to the tea after it has been taken off the heat and has cooled slightly.

Jaggery tea has a richer, more complex flavor with earthy and caramel notes due to its molasses content. Sugar tea has a more straightforward, pure sweetness.

Potential risks include weight gain from excessive calories, blood sugar spikes, and possible contamination if sourced from an unreputable provider. It is important to consume it in moderation.

Yes, you can easily use jaggery in black tea without milk. Simply dissolve the jaggery directly into the hot tea, as there is no risk of curdling without the presence of milk.