Palm sugar is made from the flower sap of the coconut palm tree. It tastes similar to brown sugar but with a deeper and more complex flavor. Palm sugar is earthy with notes of caramel and butterscotch. This sugar is ubiquitous in Southeast Asian cuisine to make flavorful curries and stir-fry dishes such as pad thai. Palm sugar is essential in adding complexity, flavor, and sweetness to many desserts, drinks, and foods. Gula djawa is a sweeter variant made from date palm trees that have a more pronounced earthiness and flavor.