Maria Magdalena Carmen Mendoza (70) makes ″Panela‴⁣⁣ or ″⁣Piloncillo″⁣ at her home in Llano Silleta, Guerrero Mexico. Panela is unrefined whole cane sugar, which is a solid form of sucrose derived from the boiling and evaporation of sugarcane juice. The name piloncillo means little loaf, because of the traditional shape in which this smoky, caramelly and earthy sugar is produced. It has far more flavor than brown sugar, which is generally just white sugar with a small amount of molasses added back to it.