09/04/2024
cocopalmsugarr Gunung Wangi Village, Kaligesing, is known as a home-based Arenga sugar production center in Purworejo Regency, Central Java. The majority of the village residents rely on Arenga sugar production for their livelihoods.
In addition to Arenga sugar, some residents also process toddy palm fruit, primarily harvested during the fasting month due to high demand. Currently, almost all villagers are involved in Arenga sugar production, with 47 out of 70 households being producers.
Karyanto, a 46-year-old Arenga sugar producer, acquired this skill from his parents and passed it on to the next generation. Every day, he and his wife work on harvesting toddy palm sap and processing it into Arenga sugar. Despite the challenging process, the Karyanto family manages to produce around 5 kilograms of Arenga sugar daily and an average of 1.2 quintals per month.
Rainy seasons affect production since not all toddy palm trees can yield toddy sap. The sucrose content in toddy sap also varies between the rainy and dry seasons, with lower yields and longer cooking times during the rainy season.
Karyanto's Arenga sugar is recognized for its unique characteristics, featuring a sweet and smooth texture. The product is distinctive with a semi-circular shape following the pattern of coconut shells. Karyanto has successfully marketed his product, gaining customers from various areas such as Kebumen, Magelang, Wonosobo, and even Yogyakarta after decades of involvement in Arenga sugar production.
