Coconut sugar doesn't sound weird ,yes I too felt the same when I got this product from plattershare's goorganic belly nirvana associate program.The product says that it can be used as regular sugar in place of white sugar and it is suitable for diabetic people as it has low glycemic index.
I have made this laddu/ balls with the sugar and doesn't find any change in flavors and taste and I world probably say it's tastier than the regular one.I have made with white sesame seeds but you can also use the black one.