Palm sugar. Spiced ginger. Nutmeg. Cloves.

Life is sweet in Indonesia—and so is soy sauce.

Kecap manis (pronounced KETCH-up MAHN-is) is thicker than Chinese soy sauce, almost syrupy, and has a deliciously sweet smack from the palm sugar in the brew. Indonesians use it as a dipping sauce, a m... More>>

Question: Why is Thai food so lip-smackingly delicious?

Answer: palm sugar.

Well, maybe palm sugar isn't the only secret tropical ingredient behind Thai food's supreme balance of tangy, hot, salty, and sweet, but it's right up there with lemon grass, fish sauce, and kaffir limes. And we...

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