Sugar

Common Name

Sugarcane has been cultivated for more than 12,000 years and was originally chewed raw. It wasn't until approximately 300 AD that sugar was crystallized and used as a sweetener. Up until that time both honey and fruit syrups were used to sweeten foods and beverages.

The Arabs are credited with turning sugarcane production into a large scale industry and establishing sugarcane plantations. As cane presses became more sophisticated, sugarcane production increased and more plantations opened. By the 16th century, sugarcane production had moved to the New World.

Like coffee, sugarcane cultivation became a huge industry in Brazil, currently the world's leading producer of sugar. The demand for sugar played a role in the industrial revolution, as the refining process created a need for machine parts and construction tools like levers and axles.

Sugar was a popular luxury item throughout the 17th and 18th centuries and was even referred to as 'white gold'. But as prices began to lower and production became more mechanized, sugar became a quite common ingredient in tea, confectionary and baked goods.

A perennial grass, sugarcane has fibrous stalks and can reach heights of up to six meters. Aside from raw, white and brown sugar, sugar cane is used to make molasses, rum and cola. Sugarcane cuttings are planted by hand and crops are sometimes harvested by hand. Crops are set on fire, burning off the dead leaves but leaving the roots intact. Machetes are then used to cut the cane, which is processed in mills. After washing, the cane is shredded and mixed with water; syrup is added and the mixture eventually crystalizes. After crystallization, sugar is refined and then dried to make granulated sugar.

Purported Medicinal Qualities*

Conventional and medical wisdom tells us that large quantities of refined sugar can lead to tooth decay, type II diabetes and obesity. Moderation is always recommended.

*Always check with your healthcare provider before consuming, inhaling or otherwise ingesting any non-prescription or prescription natural or homeopathic substance or pharmaceutical. CheftHand.com is not recommending, suggesting, inferring or otherwise endorsing the use of any herb or spice as a medication.

Culinary/Suggested Use

Brown and white sugar adds sweetness to baked goods and desserts. Sugar also adds volume and texture and can act as a preservative. Sugar is added to jams and jellies as a sweetener and to help hold them together. In baked goods, sugar helps retain moisture. In cooking, sugar is often added to add requisite tension to savory or salty flavors in sauces, rubs and marinades. Sugar is sometimes used to help bind rubs and spice mixtures to meats and vegetables during roasting or grilling.  Food for thought:

• Add vanilla sugar to your regular granulated sugar for a touch of the exotic
• Whip sugar with other baking ingredients to create a light and fluffy cake batter
• Add a touch of brown sugar to yams, squash, and sweet mashed potatoes
• Sprinkle blueberries, lemon juice and sugar over crepes or pancakes
• Grind white or brown sugar to make powdered sugar
• Add a touch of sugar to spaghetti and tomato based sauces to take cut the acid
• Add a pinch of sugar to salad dressing to cut the acid
• Add a touch of sugar to home made herb and spice rubs to help the mixture 'stick' to the meat or vegetables and create a crispier skin

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