sweeteners

Sugar Cane and Cane Sugar

Sugar cane ( Saccharum officinarum, fam. Graminaceae) is a perennial tropical herbaceous plant, originating from new Guinea, which requires strong sunlight and plenty of water.

Saccharum is the Latin name that includes many species (up to 37). The most important commercial cultivars are complex hybrids; some varieties reach 6 meters in height.

Typically, the sugar contained in a mature cane represents about 10% of its weight; this value is however very variable. Sugar cane production is around 100 tons per hectare; on average, the yield in sucrose is therefore around 10 tons per hectare.

Sugar cane takes about 12 months to mature, but in some areas (Louisiana) 6 are enough, while in others it takes 24. It is harvested by cutting the stem down, but leaving the root in place so that the plant can grow back . The harvest season coincides with the dry period and occurs before flowering.

Cane sugar

Sugar beet