Raw sugar and refined sugar are not interchangeable. Raw sugar doesn't dissolve as easily as refined sugar. Raw sugars come directly from freshly harvested cane and are highly refined. Unrefined sugar begins its journey the same way as refined sugar.
However, during the production process, unrefined sugar molasses is not normally centrifuged. Because of this, raw and unrefined sugars retain much of the molasses contained in its original form. Refined sugars, on the other hand, have had much of the molasses removed during “purification processes”. As a result, unrefined sugar contains a higher molasses content and a lower sucrose content than refined sugars.
Unrefined sugar includes unrefined cane juice or powder (Sucanat and Rapadura) and date sugar. White sugar can be disguised as refined or dry cane juice and refined cane sugar. Serve, with the least amount of granulated sugar, the most amount of turbinado and brown sugar in the middle. Refined sugars in the form of lumps are made from table sugar and brown sugar, which are first moistened with water, then compressed or molded into a certain shape and allowed to dry.
One teaspoon of granulated sugar contains no measurable nutrients; brown and turbinado sugar contain hardly any trace of calcium, iron and potassium. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that Americans limit sugar calories to 10 percent of their total daily caloric intake, but notes that most Americans get close to 15 percent of their daily calories from sugar. Brown sugar retains some molasses (hence the brown color), so it's technically healthier than white sugar, but the amount of nutrients is so small that, in reality, the benefits are minimal. Since sugar is essentially made up of empty calories with the potential to cause weight gain and increase triglycerides, the American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar a day (about 100 calories), and that men consume no more than 9 teaspoons a day (about 150 calories) of sugar per day (about 150 calories).
There are many types of granulated sugar, including fine white granulated sugar, superfine granulated sugar, granulated cane sugar, and granulated beet sugar. Whether you're looking for refined, unrefined, or unrefined sugar, Indiana Sugars offers a wide variety of sugar products to meet manufacturing needs in industries ranging from food and beverage production to pharmaceuticals. If whole, unprocessed, aren't an option, the next best, healthiest alternative are unrefined sugars such as maple syrup, honey, and date sugar. All cane sugars are refined to some extent, even the so-called raw and unrefined ones, which are only slightly less refined and, in terms of nutritional value, are not much different from white sugars.
A refinery is usually located near a waterway to receive raw sugar transported by ship from sugar mills around the world. In fact, the original sugar cane has between 10 and 15% sugar concentration and the rest is water, fiber, enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Refined sugar has empty calories, with no nutritional value, while unrefined sugar retains all the natural nutrients in sugar, such as calcium, iron and magnesium. When you think of refined sugar, the first thing you think of is granulated table sugar, and you're right, this is a very common form of refined sugar.
Sugar refineries produce the most store-available sweeteners, such as granulated sugar, brown sugar and powdered sugar, which don't come directly from the sugarcane plant...
