Sugarcane (2024)

FAQs

Sugarcane? ›

Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of tall, perennial grass (in the genus Saccharum, tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sucrose, which accumulates in the stalk internodes.

Unlike the sugars found naturally in foods like fruit, it offers calories with few nutrients or health benefits. But as long as you consume it in moderation, cane sugar can be part of a healthy diet.

Fact: Sugarcane is not a fruit nor a vegetable. It is a type of perennial grass like bamboo. Sugarcane stores its sugar in the stems (aka the canes), which makes them sweet.

Sugarcane. In the 2020s, sugarcane is grown commercially in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Florida's sugarcane production expanded significantly since the United States ceased importing sugar from Cuba in 1960. Florida is the largest cane-producing region in the United States.

Policosanol present in sugarcane juice can have a bad effect on the digestive system. Due to this, a person may experience vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, diarrhoea along abdominal pain. If your digestive system is already weak, it is better to drink sugarcane juice only after consulting your doctor.

So is there a definitive answer to which is healthier, honey or sugar? Both should be consumed in limited amounts. Honey may have a slight edge, but excess consumption of either is more dangerous to your health than the advantage of choosing one over the other.

The Bottom Line

All cane sugars are refined to some extent, even the so-called "raw" and "unrefined" — which are only slightly less refined and, in terms of nutritional value, not much different from white sugars. If a less processed sweetener is what you are looking for, then try raw and unrefined sugars.

It does not feel firm when pressed by hand and lack elasticity. The tips and cut surfaces of mouldy sugarcane have abnormal colour (red, brown or even grayish black colour), and may also have white flocculent hyphae or mycelium of the mould. Mouldy sugarcane smells like fermenting wine and should not be consumed.

Cane sugar comes from sugarcane. Sugarcane is the crop, cane sugar is the refined grains of sugar. Edit: you also get other things from sugarcane, such as falernum, molasses, rum, cachaça, bagasse and ethanol.

Not only is it a tasty beverage, but sugarcane juice also has numerous health benefits that make it a true "superfood." Sugarcane juice is rich in nutrients such as vitamins C, B6, and B5, as well as minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

What was sugarcane first used for? ›

Sugarcane, or Saccharum officinarum is thought to have been first domesticated by the Papuans in around 8000 BCE. This ancient civilisation was thought to have simply chewed the cane raw.

However, though raw cane sugar is often marketed as a healthy alternative to regular sugar, there's no real difference between them. In fact, both are identical in terms of chemical composition and made up of sucrose, a molecule formed by units of simple sugars, such as glucose and fructose.

You can opt for coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, and agave nectar, which are some good and healthy options. Another good option is shakkar, an unprocessed sugar rich in nutrients like zinc, iron, potassium, and magnesium. You can also use jaggery to sweeten up your desserts and beverages.

Although organic cane sugar is less processed than table sugar, it still carries the same damaging effects that too much sugar has on your body and is not beneficial to your microbiome (i). While eating less processed foods is generally a good thing, eating sugar really isn't all that good ever.

To keep pro-inflammatory sugar out of your diet, you not only need to throw out your sugar canister and desserts, you have to read the labels on anything you buy. Watch out for pro-inflammatory sugars, such as: Cane sugar (including pure or organic cane sugar) Brown sugar.