Cane sugar – benefits and harms. What is the difference between real cane sugar and ordinary

The content of the article

• Cane sugar and regular – what is the difference
• Real cane sugar
• Muscovado Sugar
• Sugar Turbinado
• Cane sugar Demerara
• Cane Sugar – Calories
• Cane sugar – good
• How to check cane sugar for authenticity

Other options are increasingly being offered as an alternative to the usual white sugar refined beetroot: unrefined, caramel, cane product. Nutritionists continue to insist on the dangers of “sweet poison,” and the food industry is quickly switching to advertising various analogues aimed at replacing conventional refined.

Cane sugar and regular – what is the difference

Sucrose is a carbohydrate, an important nutrient that serves as a source of energy, so necessary for brain activity. White color and the product obtained not only from beet, but also from reed plants. The brown color is due to the cleaning process without the method of recrystallization (refining of raw materials) used in the processing of sugar beets. This is the first difference between cane sugar and ordinary beet sugar, but, in fact, they are the same.

What is brown sugar? During technological purification from sucrose of reed plants, molasses is released – molasses of black color. The result is the same granulated sugar, but with a slightly lower calorie content and a different micronutrient composition. The body does not feel much difference from the consumed sugar product, whether it is white or brown. The assumption that molasses contains more vitamins and minerals compared to white molasses is still being studied..

Real cane sugar

To produce this type of food sucrose, the noble sugarcane plant (Saccharum officinarum or Saccharum spontaneum) is cultivated. Real cane sugar on our shelves should be exclusively imported: the cane growing area is Australia, India, Brazil, Cuba. Product packaging should contain information about the place of growth of the plant and packaging. The color of sugar varies from light to dark brown and depends on the region of cultivation and the concentration of molasses: the more molasses, the darker the shade.

The main types of brown sugar product:

• Muscovado
• turbinado;
• demerara.

Muscovado Sugar

Muscovado sugar (it can also be called Barbados) is obtained by first boiling the juice, it contains 10% molasses. Muscovado crystals are dark, sticky to the touch, and have a strong caramel smell. When they are added, the baking acquires a special honey color, the aroma of molasses and does not stale for a long time. More Muscovado is suitable for adding to coffee.

Sugar Turbinado

Turbinado sugar is partially refined, steam-treated (turbine), which is why it got this name. This is a high-quality bio-product: chemical elements are not used for its production. Turbinado sugar crystals are dry, crumbly, from golden to brown, depending on the processing time, used to sweeten tea and coffee drinks, cocktails, for the preparation of salads, sauces.

Cane sugar Demerara

In stores, this species, made by Mistral from raw materials from the tropical island of Mauritius, is more common. These are brownish-gold solid large crystals. Demerara cane sugar is ideal for tea, coffee, cocktails. Perfectly caramelized, revealing in the process a rich taste and pleasant aroma. Such cane sugar does not dissolve well in the dough, but it will look great sprinkled on baking.

Cane Sugar – Calories

Sweet Poison consists of 88% sucrose. The calorie content of cane sugar and refined sugar does not fundamentally differ: 377 kcal versus 387 kcal per 100 g. This calorie content is 18% of the daily intake based on an application of 2000 kcal / day. Energy value in proportions of BJU: 0% protein / 0% fat / 103% carbohydrates, that is, it contains a lot of carbohydrates and calories – it will not help you lose weight!

Cane sugar – good

From sucrose, you can get a lot of elements necessary for health. What is the difference between brown sugar and ordinary white sugar? First of all, the benefits of cane sugar are due to the presence of B vitamins necessary for metabolic processes. In the West, it is used by vegetarians to make up for iron deficiency: it contains a lot of magnesium and iron, while in the refinery there is no magnesium at all, and iron is several times less. The raw sugar product retains the beneficial elements of molasses: sodium, calcium, copper, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, and is useful:

• those who are recommended “sweet diet” for liver problems;
• for regulation of pressure;
• to normalize fat metabolism;
• to accelerate protein metabolism;
• to remove toxins from the body;
• for the nervous system;
• diabetics: there are no special differences in its use instead of refined sugar for diabetes, it is necessary to monitor the dose and calories.

How to check cane sugar for authenticity

The characteristic brown color, which can be from dark brown to golden, does not guarantee authenticity. The hue depends on the concentration of molasses and the place of growth of the plant. But the molasses itself is used as a dye of refined products, so it is important to be able to distinguish a fake, so as not to buy caramel-stained beetroot refined. Check cane sugar for authenticity as follows:

• dilute the syrup and add a drop of iodine; the resulting blue tint indicates a reaction to starch contained in a natural product;
• put sugar bar in warm water; if water changes color – you bought an imitation.