How to spot fake cane sugar. Brown cane sugar brown - its benefits and harms, composition, as well as a description of how to distinguish a fake. Cane sugar myths

Irina Kamshilina

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Content

As an alternative to the usual white sugar, refined beets, other options are increasingly being offered: unrefined, caramel, cane product. Nutritionists continue to insist on the dangers of "sweet poison", and the food industry is quickly switching to advertising of various analogs aimed at replacing conventional refined sugar.

Cane sugar and regular sugar - what's the difference

Sucrose is a carbohydrate, an essential nutrient that serves as a source of energy, so necessary for brain activity. White color and from a product obtained not only from beet, but also from reed plants. The brown color is due to the cleaning process without the recrystallization method (raw material refining) 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 cane plants, molasses is released - black molasses. The result is the same granulated sugar, but with a slightly lower calorie content and a different composition of micronutrients. The body does not feel much difference from the consumed white or brown sugar product. The assumption that molasses contains more vitamins and trace elements compared to molasses is still being studied.

Real cane sugar

For the production of this type of food sucrose, the noble sugarcane plant (Saccharum officinarum or Saccharum spontaneum) is cultivated. Real cane sugar on our counters must be exclusively imported: the area where the cane grows are Australia, India, Brazil, Cuba. Product packaging should contain information about the place of plant growth and packaging. The color of the 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.

Sugar Muscovado

Muscovado sugar (it can also be called Barbados sugar) is obtained by the method of 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 baked goods acquire a special honey color, the aroma of molasses and do not dry out for a long time. Muscovado is also suitable for adding to coffee.

Sugar Turbinado

Turbinado sugar is partially refined, processed with steam (turbine), which is why it got its name. This is a high-quality biological product: no chemical elements are used for its production. Turbinado sugar crystals are dry, crumbly, from golden to brown color, depending on the processing time, are used for sweetening tea and coffee drinks, cocktails, for making salads, sauces.

Demerara cane sugar

In stores, this species is more common, made by Mistral from raw materials from the tropical island of Mauritius. These are brown-golden solid large crystals. Cane sugar Demerara is ideal for tea, coffee, cocktails. Perfectly caramelized, revealing a rich taste and pleasant aroma in the process. This cane sugar does not dissolve well in the dough, but will look great as a sprinkle on baked goods.

Cane sugar - calories

"Sweet poison" consists of 88% sucrose. The calorie content of cane sugar and refined sugar is not fundamentally different: 377 kcal versus 387 kcal per 100 g. This calorie content is 18% of the daily intake rate based on the use of 2000 kcal / day. Energy value in the proportions of BJU: 0% proteins / 0% fats / 103% carbohydrates, that is, it contains a lot of carbohydrates and calories - it will not help you lose weight!

Cane sugar - benefits

From sucrose, you can get a lot of elements necessary for health. What's the difference between brown sugar and regular 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 replenish iron deficiency: it contains a lot of magnesium and iron, while in refined sugar there is no magnesium at all, and iron is several times less. The unprocessed 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 pressure regulation;
  • 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 using it instead of refined sugar in diabetes, it is necessary to monitor the dose and kilocalories.

Reality: this is not true!

Cane sugar, or brown sugar as it is often called, is sugar made from sugar cane. In the production of cane sugar, sugar cane is subject to minimal industrial processing, as a result of which cane sugar preserves sugar cane molasses and, accordingly, a number of valuable microelements such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, etc. The darker the sugar, the higher the concentration of molasses in it.

However, be aware that white cane sugar is also on the market! It will not retain sugarcane molasses, but it has a mild flavor and delicate tropical aroma.

Myth: in order to determine the authenticity of cane sugar, it must be dissolved in water.

It is believed that fake sugar can be detected by dissolving it in warm water. If the liquid is colored in the color of sugar, then, most likely, in front of you is a useless fake.

Reality:it's a lie!

All cane sugar tends to color the water. The molasses that envelops the sugar crystals is the first to dissolve, coloring the water. This is due to the peculiarities of the production of cane sugar!

Cane sugar is produced by crystallization of molasses obtained from sugarcane juice. Small slices of sucrose are added to the molasses to start crystal growth. A sucrose crystal begins to form around these particles. Since sucrose has a dense crystalline structure, most of the cane molasses cannot be fixed inside the crystal, but only in its microcracks.

Since the outer part of the crystals has more microcracks, the overwhelming amount of reed molasses is fixed there. And, accordingly, upon dissolution, the crystals of unrefined cane sugar, first of all, lose molasses and become discolored, and the solution becomes colored.

Myth: real cane sugar must "show itself" when it comes into contact with iodine.

It is believed that there is one efficient way bite through the fake sugar. You need to take iodine, drop it into sugar syrup. If the sugar has acquired a bluish tint, then this is natural cane sugar, otherwise it is a fake.

Reality: it is a myth!

Such a myth appeared due to the fact that saccharides (in particular, starch / bread) interact with iodine, turning bluish (earlier this was how the presence of bread in cutlets was determined by dripping iodine onto their break). However, this only applies to polysaccharides such as starch (the main constituent of bread).

Cane sugar, on the other hand, is predominantly a monosaccharide, which by its nature does not manifest itself as such when in contact with iodine. therefore this method sugar authentication is not effective! Sugar won't turn blue - and shouldn't!

Myth:real cane sugar can be distinguished by its taste and smell.

Reality: it's true!

White sugar has only one taste and practically no smell, but cane sugar has a lot of nuances of taste and aroma. A genuine product can be distinguished by its characteristic taste and smell. Add a few lumps of cane sugar to a cup of tea or coffee, stir it and taste the drink - real cane sugar will accentuate the taste of the drink without distorting it, adding a delicious spicy note to a cup of tea or coffee.

Myth:to determine the true sugar, you need to carefully study the product packaging.

Reality: it's true!

In the store, carefully read the information on the packaging before buying cane sugar. Pay special attention to the country of origin of the cane sugar. Good sugar comes from the island of Mauritius, Cuba, Brazil, USA, Costa Rica or Guatemala.

In addition, give preference to trusted sugar producers, such as cane sugar TM "Sladov".

Cane sugar TM "Sladov" is produced on the island of Mauritius, has successfully passed all the tests for authenticity and safety. The quality of this sugar is confirmed by the presence of quality certificates, hygienic conclusions, as well as the results of studies for the presence of useful substances in unrefined cane sugar of TM "Sladov", such as phosphorus, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium!

The right decisions in choosing quality products!

Until I tasted real cane sugar, I thought with complete confidence that I was buying healthy sugar in the supermarket under the guise of cane sugar and only recently learned that all the “cane” sugar in the store is just ordinary refined sugar covered with a thin film of cane molasses but real sugar must be found elsewhere.

At first I was very indignant, because on the packaging of very famous and popular manufacturers such as Mistral - Demerara cane sugar, Brown & White "Golden Demerara", BILLINGTON'S "Natural Demerara" of this supposedly real cane sugar, it is clearly written: unrefined cane sugar and then a list of trace elements ...

Aren't manufacturers responsible for the discrepancy between the product and what they write on the packaging?

It turns out that in Europe it is allowed to write unrefined sugar on the packaging if it was covered with cane molasses. That is, we get such artificially produced unrefined sugar that has nothing to do with real sugar obtained from one stripped off cane juice.

In Russia, unfortunately, there are no regulations at all that would prohibit the sale of refined sugar covered with cane molasses under the guise of unrefined sugar.

Test purchase results!

Googling on the Internet, I found several forums where counterfeit cane sugar is actively discussed, of the above mentioned companies, but the most interesting thing that I managed to find on this topic is, of course, the published results of a test purchase of cane sugar from these companies. The study showed that all the samples presented were nothing more than regular refined sugar coated with cane molasses.

From what exactly the refined sugar was - from sugar beet or from cane, they did not begin to determine, since this no longer matters, because refined cane sugar does not represent any benefit as well as beet sugar. All the benefits of sugar in molasses! For proper nutrition raw sugar is used

Who Makes Real Cane Sugar?

Fortunately, not everything is so bad, and I found the only company I know that produces the same real and healthy unrefined cane sugar - this is the Indian company Akshaya Invite LLC, which produces its own sugar "Gur" under the brand name "Saharaja" ... What is interesting The homeland of cane sugar is India and where, if not there, you can find real cane sugar!

5 Signs of Real Cane Sugar!

  • Unformed appearance... Sugar brand "Saharaja" is a solid, loose mass of brown color with a very bright saturated aroma of molasses. Previously, they generally sold such a sticky, dark brown mass that was very inconvenient to use, it could be chewed like candy, but it was impossible to add it to baked goods. Now they began to evaporate the water from sugar to the end and release a completely dry mass, which can already completely replace the sugar we are used to, but it does not have clearly shaped sugar crystals, as we are used to!

    These are the stones that are often formed when cane sugar hardens.

  • The property of hardening in air. None of the molasses coated refined sugar will harden in your place. Saharaja sugar hardens very quickly, in just a few days after opening the package, and then it has to be broken into pieces. I solve this problem very simply, I grind the sugar in a coffee grinder in small batches, so that it lasts for several days, because even the cane sugar that is ground into powdered sugar hardens again and has to be actively kneaded with a spoon, or thrown back into the grinder. But these are all small things compared to the benefits and taste that you get from real unrefined cane sugar.

    Water on the left, sugar "Saharaja" added to the water on the right

  • Cloudy water. Adding sugar "Saharaja" to the water, tea , coffee or fruit drink causes active turbidity of the liquid, this is the property of molasses, while the sugar itself remains brown. Refined sugar artificially coated with molasses can also cause a slight cloudy water, but you will see that the sugar turns white.

    Left transparent tea without sugar, right cloudy tea with sugar "Saharaja"

  • Less sweet and incredibly rich in flavor. If you taste the sugar "Saharaja", you will understand that previously you only tasted refined sugar. It is often compared to taste honey , it is so rich in taste.
  • You can't make lollipops out of it. Ordinary sugar makes excellent cockerels on a stick at home, but you won't be able to make such candies from Saharaja sugar. Probably due to the large amount of sticky molasses, the lollipops stick tightly to our Soviet cast iron lollipop mold, no matter how well I grease it with vegetable oil, and if you make the lollipops in a silicone mold, they turn out to be very sticky and, as it were, melt when lying on a platter or wooden board, leaving sticky marks. In general, my attempt to make healthy candy for a child was unsuccessful and had to be made from fructose.

    • There is also a 6th sign, but you will not be able to check it at home - it is a rich vitamin and mineral composition.

    Sugar "Saharaja" contains 100 gr. product: iron -2.05 mg, phosphorus -22.3 mg, magnesium-117.4 mg, zinc -0.594 mg, potassium - 331.4 mg, calcium - 62.17 mg, vit. PP - 0.01 mg, Vit C - 0.057 mg, Vit B2 - 0.004 mg, Vit B1 - 0.012 mg.

    The question is where to buy unrefined cane sugar?

    I used to buy it in online grocery stores, but now I go to my store to get sugar, and you can also buy Saharaja cane sugar in our store!

    Brown unrefined sugar is becoming more and more popular among consumers every day. It is famous for its advantages and useful properties, but, unfortunately, this is often used by unscrupulous manufacturers. Brown sugar how to distinguish a fake and choose a really high-quality product? Many buyers are asking this question. After all, prices on the Internet and in ordinary stores for this product are very different.

    Why? What's the catch?

    When buying cane sugar, remember that brown is its natural color. It acquires this color thanks to cane molasses. If you put a spoonful of sugar in water and it turns brown, it's a fake. Not real cane sugar is made very simply: ordinary refined sugar is mixed with molasses, and it takes the form of cane sugar, but naturally it does not have any useful properties... At the same time, manufacturers do not bear any responsibility, since such "production" is not prohibited by law. Yes, and you can only distinguish a fake after purchase. Who will give you the opportunity to pour sugar with water in the store?

    Then how else can you tell brown sugar from a fake?

    1. When buying, pay attention to the labels on the packaging. If it says that the sugar is produced in South America, the USA, Costa Rica, Brazil or Cuba, then it is likely that you are holding really real and healthy sugar. Also on the package it must be indicated that it is "brown sugar not refined", there should be no more postscripts.

    Unfortunately, the country of origin is far from a complete guarantee of the authenticity of the product. You can only distinguish 100% fake brown sugar after purchasing it.

    2. A glass of warm water and ordinary iodine will help in this. Dissolve sugar in water and add a couple of drops of iodine to it. If the water has acquired a blue hue, then this is genuine cane sugar. Brown sugar can also be distinguished by its specific taste.

    3. The real one has a vanilla-caramel taste and smell.

    4. Do not forget that cane sugar will always cost significantly more than white sugar. Therefore, if you see cheap brown sugar in the store, it is better to skip it right away.

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    True gourmets appreciate brown sugar for its original taste, which it gives to food and drinks. But in order to choose a truly real product, it is important to know a few simple rules... Knowing how to choose the right brown sugar, how to distinguish a fake, you will be satisfied with your purchase and fully enjoy all the benefits of such sugar, over the usual white refined sugar.



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