Panela () or rapadura (Portuguese pronunciation: ) is an unrefined whole cane sugar, typical of Central and Latin America. It is a solid form of sucrose derived from the boiling and evaporation of sugarcane juice. Panela is known by other names in Latin America, such as chancaca in Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, piloncillo in Mexico (where panela refers to a type of cheese, queso panela). The name piloncillo means "little loaf", because of the traditional shape in which this smoky, caramelly, and earthy sugar is produced. Just like brown sugar, two varieties of piloncillo are available; one is lighter (blanco) and one darker (oscuro). Unrefined, it is commonly used in Mexico, where it has been around for at least 500 years. Made from crushed sugar cane, the juice is collected, boiled, and poured into molds, where it hardens into blocks. Elsewhere in the world, the word jaggery describes a similar foodstuff. Both are considered non-centrifugal cane sugars. Panela is sold in many forms, including liquid, granulated, and solid blocks, and is used in the canning of foods, as well as in confectionery, soft drinks, baking, and vinegar, beer, and winemaking. Regional names Chancaca in Bolivia, Chile and Peru; also the name of a sweet sauce made from this Dulce de panela or dulce de atado in El Salvador Đường phên in Vietnam Gura in Afghanistan Gurr in Pakistan Jaggery, Bella (ಬೆಲ್ಲ), Gur, Sharkara, or Vellam in India Nam oy in Laos Panela in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela Panocha in the Mexican State of Sinaloa Papelón in Venezuela Piloncillo ("little pylon", so named for the cone shape) in Mexico and Spain Rapadou in Haiti Rapadura in Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and the Dominican Republic Raspadura in Cuba, Ecuador, and Panama Tapa de dulce or Dulce (de tapa) in Costa Rica and Nicaragua Economics The main producer of panela is Colombia (about 1.4 million tons/year), where panela production is one of the most important economic activities, with the highest index of panela consumption per capita worldwide. Panela is also produced in Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil, and Bolivia (where it is called chankaka or empanizao). In Colombia, the panela industry is an important source of employment, with about 350,000 people working in nearly 20,000 trapiches (panela farms). In 2003, Colombian sugarcane contributed 4.2% of the value of agricultural production (not counting coffee) and 1.9% of national