Today, more and more often you can see on the shelves of shops not only the usual beet sugar, but also cane sugar. Their cost differs significantly. What is the difference and which sugar is better?
Comparison of beet and cane sugar
If you ask what is the difference between beet and cane sugar, the answer is: nothing. Having passed the maximum purification from various impurities, refined beetroot, like refined cane sugar, has exactly the same composition, taste and white color. This is the kind of sugar that is present in the diet of millions of people every day. What kind of raw materials served as the basis for this product can only be determined in a specialized laboratory. At the same time, the probability of success will not be very high. Both refined beet and refined cane sugar are 99.9% composed of a substance called sucrose. They are simply identical.
There is a difference when it comes to unrefined product. And a very significant one. Cane sugar production is an ancient invention of mankind. It existed even before our era - in Egypt, India, China. A little later, they learned about cane sugar in America, the Mediterranean countries and, finally, in Russia. In 1719, by decree of Peter I, a whole factory was built to produce sugar from cane. The world learned about the production of beet sugar in the 19th century. We can thank the German scientists F. K. Ahard and A. Marggraf for this. In Germany, in 1802, the first refined sugar factory was opened.
Unrefined beet sugar is not particularly edible. It is worth noting that the initial product - raw material, which is obtained after boiling the plant sap, has a specific taste and an unpleasant odor.
Cane sugar is highly prized for its pleasant caramel flavor and beautiful brownish hue. The brownish color of cane sugar is obtained due to the admixture of molasses - syrupy black molasses, which envelops the crystals of this product. By the way, it contains a huge complex of trace elements useful for humans (magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, copper, chromium, iron, potassium and calcium). In addition, the composition of the molasses impurity includes plant fibers and B vitamins.
Differences between cane and beet sugar
Cane sugar is edible both refined and unrefined. Beetroot - mainly refined. Due to the content of molasses impurities in sugar from cane, it contains many useful trace elements and vitamin B, which are practically absent in beet sugar. Beet sugar is less nutritious. Reed has a more intense taste and aroma.
