Sugarcane –source of sugar
Sugarcane is not the only source of sugar. Sugar beets are cultivated in more temperate climates where sugarcane will not grow. The beets are harvested and their roots are cuts into ‘chips’, which are pressed, rolled and refined in much the same way as sugarcane. The leaves and stems of the beet plant find use as animal fodder. Due to purification difficulties, the molasses from beets is not sold to the public. Oliverde Seres first introduced beet sugar to the European in 1590. There is no difference between beet crystals and sugarcane crystals. However, the majority of sugar today comes from sugarcane. Over the years sugar has become more useful than just a simple sweetener. Sugar is used in curing tobacco and other food products. It is also an essential ingredient in the production of citric acid, ethyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, glycerin, and levulinic acid.
