Brown sugar has already become the talk of the town among the diverse discourse on healthy eating. We have already written about the varieties and properties of brown sugar earlier. Someone insists that there is nothing healthy in it and is no different from white sugar, while others claim that brown sugar is salvation from the “white death” and an indispensable product in the diet menu.
However, today we will not talk about the dangers or benefits of this amazing product, but about the myths that accompany another popular topic so often discussed on the Internet...
How to distinguish real cane sugar from fake?
“Put it in warm water. If it darkens, then this sugar is just colored refined sugar.” This method of testing for authenticity, unfortunately, does not work, since cane sugar will color the water in the same way as “colored refined sugar.” The fact is that molasses, which collects in the microcracks of sugar crystals, gives sugar a pleasant honey-like hue. When it comes into contact with water, it quickly washes out of the crystals and colors the water.
“Drop a couple of drops of iodine into water with sugar. If the water doesn’t turn blue, it means the sugar is fake.” And this cunning method from the arsenal of the young chemist also, alas, does not work, although the idea was completely justified. The problem is that if all processing standards are observed cane sugar It contains practically no starch, and therefore there is nothing for iodine to color.
“Cane sugar has a caramel aroma, which is very noticeable when reacting with hot water" Of course, once you try tea or coffee with cane sugar, you will no longer confuse its light aroma and pleasant aftertaste, which accompany the drink and give it a slightly “candy” note. However, white sugar with caramello additives, in principle, can give the same effect when in contact with hot water. The most important thing in this case is not to confuse unrefined cane sugar with regular caramel sugar, which was simply boiled and formed into caramel crystals.
“Real cane sugar costs exorbitant amounts of money, so it was never actually on store shelves.” In fact, this is not true. Yes, cane sugar costs a little more than white sugar, but the production and processing of sugar cane is not so expensive that it is unaffordable for our customers. Real cane sugar must come from Mauritius, Guatemala, Brazil, Costa Rica, the USA and Cuba, but the “exoticism” of these countries is also not reflected in its cost, as is the technology of its production. Therefore, it is quite difficult to determine the authenticity of sugar based on the price tag. The Agro-Alliance holding company also offers its own version of brown sugar.
What is the difference between brown sugar and regular sugar?
Obviously, distinguishing counterfeit from real cane sugar is quite difficult, simply because almost all detection means are, in fact, not as effective as they are said to be. In order to purchase a natural product from sugar cane, you need to wisely combine the characteristics of real, “pure” products. For example, you need to take into account that cane sugar is actually a little more expensive than regular white sugar; you need to check the country of origin, because no matter how good the crystals are in appearance, no one will produce sugar in a country where it simply does not grow - it is too expensive and therefore implausible. In addition, the taste of cane sugar is slightly different from the taste of regular refined sugar.
We wish you good luck in your search for a real reed treasure! And remember: as long as we believe in myths, they continue to live.
Brown unrefined sugar is becoming an increasingly popular product among consumers every day. It is famous for its advantages and beneficial properties, but, unfortunately, unscrupulous manufacturers often take advantage of it. Brown sugar: how to distinguish a fake and choose a truly high-quality product? Many buyers ask this question. After all, prices on the Internet and in regular stores for this product vary greatly.
Why? What's the catch?
When purchasing cane sugar, remember that brown is its natural color. It gets its color from cane molasses. If you put a spoonful of sugar in water and it turns brown, it's fake. Not real cane sugar is made very simply: regular refined sugar is mixed with molasses, and it takes on the appearance of cane sugar, but naturally has no beneficial properties. In this case, manufacturers do not bear any responsibility, since such “production” is not prohibited by law. Yes, and you can distinguish a fake only after purchase. Who will give you the opportunity to add sugar to water in the store?
Then how else can you distinguish brown sugar from a fake?
1. When purchasing, pay attention to the labels on the packaging. If it says that sugar is produced in South America, USA, Costa Rica, Brazil or Cuba, then it is likely that you are holding a truly genuine and healthy sugar. Also, the packaging must indicate that this is “unrefined brown sugar”; there should be no other notes.
Unfortunately, the country of origin is not a complete guarantee of the authenticity of the product. You can 100% distinguish counterfeit brown sugar only after purchasing it.
2. A glass of warm water and regular iodine will help with this. Dissolve sugar in water and add a couple of drops of iodine. If the water has acquired a blue tint, 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. Don’t forget that cane sugar will always cost much more than white sugar. Therefore, if you see cheap brown sugar in the store, it is better to immediately refuse it.
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True gourmets highly value brown sugar for its original taste that it adds to dishes and drinks. But in order to choose a truly genuine product, it is important to know a few simple rules. Knowing how to choose the right brown sugar and how to distinguish a fake, you will be satisfied with your purchase and fully enjoy all the benefits of such sugar over regular white refined sugar.
Actually, it's possible. First, look for the word “unrefined” on the packaging; if sugar is designated as “brown refined”, it means that it is a product containing dyes and foreign additives. Secondly, the aroma cane molasses It is quite characteristic, and it is not difficult to distinguish it from the smell of burnt sugar, which is used to tint counterfeits. Thirdly, natural cane brown sugar is always quite expensive. It is more expensive to produce (in particular, sugar cane must be processed within 24 hours after it is cut), and because it is produced abroad (in Russia it can only be packaged in bags, and large producers never hide this), and transportation also costs some money.
Buy sugar from manufacturers who have been on the market for a long time. They value their name and monitor the quality of their products.
You can determine whether the brown sugar you bought is real or fake: put a spoonful of sugar in a glass of warm water. If the water becomes colored and the crystals lose color, it means the sugar is fake.
No, that's not true. Brown sugar has its color because it contains molasses. However, it is concentrated in the upper layers of the sugar crystal, and when it gets into water, it dissolves faster than the sugar itself - and this is more noticeable on larger crystals. This is explained by the fact that each brown sugar crystal is formed separately during synthesis, and does not break off from a larger monolith. In this crystal, the sucrose molecules are arranged very tightly, leaving no room for other molecules, and as the crystal grows, the molasses is pushed into the upper layers.
The overall picture is this: a sugar crystal is transparent on the inside, but colored by molasses on the outside - and this coloring occurs naturally as the crystal grows.
Brown sugar has fewer calories than white sugar and is therefore healthier.
Yes, brown sugar is healthier than white sugar, but for a different reason. In addition to calories, it contains various minerals that are extremely beneficial for the human body. As for the calorie content of brown sugar, it is almost the same as that of white sugar.
Brown sugar can be made from any raw material, you just need to not refine the raw sugar.
No, you can't make brown sugar from everything - just from sugar cane. More precisely, it will work, but it will be very expensive. For example, raw beet sugar is practically inedible - the mass enveloping its crystals smells unpleasant and also tastes disgusting. Therefore, to make brown sugar from beets, you must first make beet sugar, then refine it completely, white, and then color it with cane molasses. Obviously, the game is not worth the candle.
Brown cane sugar obtained from the sap of the sun-loving plant Saccharum officinarum (sugar cane). This bamboo-like plant (see photo) was originally native to India. However, the soldiers of Alexander the Great could not help but notice such a tasty curiosity and took it with them, which gradually led to its spread. It began to be grown by farmers in the Middle East and Mediterranean. And the century of great discoveries and global travel helped establish cane plantations on the American continents.
The overseas product came to us with the permission of Peter I, who initiated the construction of the first sugar factory in St. Petersburg, as well as the organization of a special department of the “Sugar Chamber”. Before this, sugar was a fairly expensive delicacy and was available only to select people.
All cane sugar has several varieties, depending on the area of growth and the content of the special molasses substance in the final product:
Many people are wondering about the need to use this product, replacing it with the more familiar beet sugar. What is the difference between a brown sweet product and a white one? The advantage of the first is undeniable by the fact that it undergoes minimal treatment with various chemical “bleaching” agents. This means brown can be considered a more natural and environmentally friendly product.
Beneficial features
All energy qualities of the cane juice product are similar to those of beet juice. Its calorie content is 387-400 kcal. However, as already mentioned, it contains unique substances - molasses and molasses, which add richness to the color. They are also a source of minerals and elements - calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and even large quantity proteins. So the answer to the question “why is brown cane sugar better?” quite obvious.
It helps regulate metabolism, strengthen bone and joint tissues, stabilize the functioning of the circulatory and nervous systems, and also normalizes the functioning of the stomach.
The benefits of brown cane sugar, consumed in adequate doses, are undeniable. Therefore, you should not completely give up eating sweets, but replace them with a healthier unrefined cane product.
Moreover, it is brown cane sugar that is allowed for nutrition during a training regime, due to its large amount useful qualities and absence of allergic reactions.
How to distinguish a fake?
However, you will be able to take advantage of all the properties of the product only if you purchase the real product. Beware of fakes! Low-quality brown cane sugar can be recognized in two ways, but only at home:
- check for a reaction with iodine, for which dilute sugar in a glass of water and drop a couple of drops of an alcohol solution - the blue color will become a sign of the original product;
- simply dissolve cane brown sugar in clean water– the appearance of coloring indicates that the product is only caramel.
Using this product will bring you benefits and unusual taste qualities familiar products.
Use in cooking
The use of unrefined brown sugar can be increasingly found in culinary recipes. This is not surprising, because cane sugar is preferable as a sweetener and food component, because gives a richer taste and aroma. The scope of use of the product is very wide:
- additive to hot drinks - coffee, tea, tinctures, compotes, carbonated drinks, etc.;
- milk products;
- salads, soups, cold dishes, sauces;
- bakery pastries, desserts - candies, ice cream, glazes.
Sugar is a natural preservative, so the preparation of preserves, jellies, marmalades, and candied fruits cannot be done without it. All the more relevant in the preparation of these dishes is healthy brown cane sugar.
Thanks to one more unique property enhance the action of yeast, which leads to an increase in volume and improved consistency of the dough; the sweetness is used for baking, as well as in winemaking and brewing.
Brown cane sugar benefits and treatment
The benefits of brown cane product are due to the presence of minerals, vitamins and plant fibers in its composition. Moreover, it can be attributed to slow carbohydrates, which perform the main function - saturating the body with energy and does not affect the appearance excess weight. This quality is fully appreciated by the inhabitants of Japan, whose cuisine is based on the use of sugar from cane.
However, it is worth considering that, as with other products, it is necessary to observe the measure. Just 50-60 grams per day will give required amount energy. The excess will be deposited on your sides due to the fact that it does not have time to be used up, especially in people leading a sedentary lifestyle.
Recently, researchers International Organization on sugar, they have proven that the brown cane sugar used in the prescribed measures can and even should be consumed for diabetes mellitus.
Sugar and the energy it produces are very important for some aspects of human life - work nervous system, and it also prevents atherosclerosis. And sucrose in its composition regulates the work gastrointestinal tract and liver activity.
Cane brown sugar can also be used as an ingredient in beauty recipes. It is one of the main components of body and face scrubs, for tightening the skin, nourishing and moisturizing it.
Harm of cane sugar and contraindications
The harm of sugar from cane juice is caused by its high calorie content. Having become available to the entire population, it began to be used in very large quantities, which caused a large number of diseases and the development of addiction.
Uncontrolled use of it as food significantly increases the risk of acquiring diabetes mellitus, cancer and atherosclerosis. The pancreas may not be able to process large amounts of sugary foods, which leads to a long list of problems.
For those with a sweet tooth who still can’t give up desserts, you can replace sugar with other substances:
- organic sugar cane juice;
- natural honey;
- fruits with high glucose levels (bananas, apricots, apples);
- dried fruits (raisins, dried apricots, etc.).
So, eat right and be healthy!
About the benefits of brown sugar in Lately you can hear a lot of debate among those who are interested healthy eating. Some say that it does not have any special beneficial properties that would distinguish it from white sugar. But there are also people who are sure that it is a real boon for those who want to avoid the harm caused by white beet sugar. That’s why it’s even included in the diet.
The raw material for this product is sugar cane. We don't grow it here. It is imported from America and South Africa. Since raw materials have to be brought from afar, this significantly increases the final cost of the product. Its price is several times higher than that of conventional beet sugar. Therefore, you can often encounter a fake. On the shelves you can find caramelized or simply colored white sugar. In this way, manufacturers profit from our ignorance. It costs them much less to produce such a fake. Externally, this product is no different from the original
On a note! In fact, cane sugar doesn't have to be brown. It can be light brown or golden. It depends on the type of product.
Let us consider in this article in more detail what methods for determining natural cane sugar exist.
Myths about cane sugar
- The first myth is that once immersed in warm water, fake cane sugar will color it dark color. In fact, this method cannot be used. Colored beet sugar will make the water dark, but with real cane sugar the situation is exactly the same. Cane sugar contains molasses, which dissolves in water, causing it to darken.
- The second myth says that sugar needs to be dissolved in water and then iodine should be added. If the product is real, then the water should turn blue. This method is also not true. Although it is a good chemical idea. But the fact is that if sugar was produced according to all the rules, then there will be practically no starch in it. And this means that of blue color it may not work out.
- The third myth. "When cane sugar dissolves in hot water, it exudes a characteristic caramel aroma, by which the original product can be distinguished.” This myth is only partially true. If a person has tasted real cane sugar many times, he will know what it should smell like. But some cunning manufacturers add flavoring to the fake, which can deceive even sophisticated gourmets.
- Another myth says that real cane sugar has never been sold on the shelves of our stores because its price is too high. This myth is also false. This product does have a fairly high price compared to the white one. Extraction of raw materials and processing are not overly expensive processes. This product must be sourced from countries such as Mauritius, USA, Cuba and others. But this is not a reason for a significant increase in price. The only reason cane sugar will cost more than regular sugar is the cost of transporting it. While white sugar is produced from domestic sugar beets, making it a fairly affordable product. Therefore, it can be said that it will be very difficult to distinguish the authenticity of a product by looking at its price. Moreover, inflating prices is a way of profit for unscrupulous manufacturers.
How to identify real brown sugar
Since almost all known methods for identifying a natural product turned out to be just myths, we can say that natural cane sugar is extremely difficult to distinguish. Therefore, the only way to determine a natural product is a combination of several characteristics.
Firstly, the price of the product will indeed differ significantly compared to beet sugar produced in our country. In addition, it is very useful to know in which countries sugar cane grows. If the information about the manufacturer that is indicated matches at least one of these countries, then most likely the product can be considered natural. If the box indicates a country where cane does not grow, then no matter how exotic it may be, you can be sure that the product is fake. Since the production of sugar in a country that is not the homeland of raw materials will be very expensive. Therefore, from this we can conclude that the product is most likely counterfeit. In addition, the taste of a natural product will still be slightly different. But in order to determine it, you need to be personally familiar with the taste characteristics of cane sugar.
Video: how to distinguish cane sugar from fake?
