Brown Sugar vs Raw Sugar
The difference between brown sugar and raw sugar is distinct though, sometimes, brown sugar is branded as raw sugar and sold in the market. However, before going into the difference between brown sugar and raw sugar, you need to know what they are. We have all heard and even used brown sugar at one time or other in our kitchens but what is this raw sugar? Well, brown sugar is nothing but molasses reintroduced to white sugar thus changing its color and also flavor. Raw sugar is also brown in color and also called natural brown sugar. First crystallization of cane produces raw sugar. It is then refined to remove molasses to finally produce white sugar that we use commonly in our daily life for sweetening our drinks or to make recipes like cakes and biscuits. Let us take a closer look at raw sugar and brown sugar.
What is Raw Sugar?
Raw sugar is natural and light brown in colour. To understand the type of sugar it is, let us first see how raw sugar is made. First of all, sugarcane is pressed and mixed with lime. The liquid so obtained is then reduced through simple evaporation, allowing them to crystallize. These crystals, light brown in color, are then spun in a centrifuge to allow them to separate. Finally, these crystals are left to dry on their own. These crystals have a slightly light brown color because of the presence of molasses. This is the sugar that is called raw sugar. Unlike brown sugar, one cannot hope to make raw sugar at home as there are only white and brown sugars available in the market to experiment with.
What is Brown Sugar?
Manufacturers use refined white sugar to make it brown sugar. This is done by reintroducing molasses, mostly keeping it to 3.5% to 6.5% by volume. The light brown sugar contains up to 3.5% molasses. Dark brown sugar contains up to 6.5% molasses. Remember, the brown sugar so produced is not natural as opposed to common perception that it is natural.
The raw sugar is first refined to get white sugar and then turned into brown sugar by adding molasses. So, as you can see, from among raw sugar, brown sugar, and white sugar, brown sugar is the type of sugar that is processed most. You can make your own brown sugar at home by adding molasses syrup to white sugar.
What is the difference between Brown Sugar and Raw Sugar?
• Talking of differences between brown sugar and raw sugar, raw sugar is natural while brown sugar is more artificial.
• Raw sugar is natural and free from harmful chemicals and dyes. Brown sugar, as it is made from white sugar makes use of many chemicals such as formic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfur dioxide, flocculants, preservatives, bleaching agents, and viscosity modifiers.
• When brown sugar is made, molasses are added. With this addition, brown sugar gets a little more nutrients as small amounts of macro minerals (such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and sulfur), small amounts of micro minerals (such as copper, manganese, iron, and zinc), and B vitamins are present in molasses. However, since the amount of molasses added is very little, the brown sugar is only a little ahead from raw sugar.
• The calories of brown sugar and raw sugar is said to be the same.
• When we consider the production process of both brown sugar and raw sugar, we can come to the following conclusion. Raw sugar uses the least amount of production process as it does not go through as heavy production process as brown sugar. That means, less energy is used in the production of raw sugar. Also, since the process is not lengthy, less waste is produced and also fewer chemicals are added to the product. On the contrary to this, brown sugar takes a long production process because to produce brown sugar first raw sugar and then white sugar has to be made. As a result of this lengthy production process, brown sugar produces more waste, uses more energy as well as have more chemicals. Therefore, from the two, raw sugar is the environmentally friendly product.
• Both raw, as well as brown sugars, come under different brand names having their own characteristics and properties.
Whatever sugar you choose to use, you have to remember one fact. No matter what type of sugar you use, excessive use of sugar can lead to health problems such as diabetes.
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