BLITAR – Coconut sugar production in Blitar is rising ahead of Eid al-Fitr. Strong seasonal demand is pushing traditional producers to increase their daily output.

In Gledug Village, Sanankulon District, workers stay busy turning fresh coconut sap into traditional palm sugar, locally known as gula Jawa. The sweetener is widely used in Indonesian dishes and becomes especially popular during Ramadan and the Eid holiday season.

Inside the modest production kitchen, smoke rises from wood-fired stoves while the sweet aroma of caramelized sugar fills the air. Several workers stir boiling coconut sap in large pans until the liquid slowly thickens.

Other workers focus on shaping the cooked sugar into molds. They leave the mixture to cool before it hardens into solid blocks ready for sale.

One producer, Sulis Imroah, continues to run the coconut sugar business using traditional methods. She said demand for coconut sugar always rises during Ramadan and increases further as Eid approaches.

“Orders increase significantly before Eid compared with normal days,” Sulis said.

On regular days, her workshop produces around 300 kilograms of coconut sugar per day. During Ramadan, however, output rises to around 400 to 500 kilograms daily to meet higher demand.

Workers still follow traditional techniques during the production process. They boil fresh coconut sap collected from farmers for several hours over wood-fired stoves until it thickens.

After the mixture reaches the right consistency, workers pour it into molds and allow it to cool before packaging.

During Ramadan, workers begin production early in the morning. Their shifts usually start at 5 a.m. and continue until around 3 p.m.

Demand for Sulis’ coconut sugar also comes from outside Blitar. Buyers regularly place orders from cities such as Jakarta, Malang, and Surabaya.

Some shipments even reach international markets. Several orders have been sent to Hong Kong.

Sulis sells her coconut sugar for around Rp21,500 per kilogram. Each day she uses about 200 liters of coconut sap as the main raw material.

Local farmers supply the sap from Gledug Village and nearby areas, including Ngoran Village in Nglegok District. This small supply chain supports the local coconut sugar industry.

Although orders surge before Eid, Sulis said demand remains stable throughout the year. Her workshop produces about eight tons of coconut sugar each month on average.

“Orders always come every month,” she said. “But demand increases much more as Eid approaches.”