The palmyra climbers of Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu eke out a living by harvesting pathaneer, the sap extracted from the flower clusters of the trees. The sap makes for a refreshing drink and can also be processed to make panangkarkandu (palm candy) and karupatti (palm jaggery).
Pathaneer or palm nectar is not fermented to make toddy as its sale is prohibited in Tamil Nadu. Palm jaggery and palm candy are favoured over white sugar as they are made without the use of chemicals and no preservatives are added. The product is also known to have minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. The palmyra is the State tree of Tamil Nadu.
