Molasses

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Not to be confused with molasse.

Molasses or treacle is a thick syrup by-product from the processing of the sugarcane or sugar beet into sugar. (In some parts of the US, molasses also refers to sorghum syrup.) The word molasses comes from the Portuguese word melaço, which comes from the Greek mellas, "honey". The quality of molasses depends on the maturity of the sugar cane or beet, the amount of sugar extracted, and the method of extraction.

Contents 1 Cane molasses 2 Sugar beet molasses 3 Substitutes 4 Other forms 5 Trivia 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Cane molasses

Sulfured molasses is made from young green sugar cane and is treated with sulfur dioxide, which acts as a preservative, during the sugar extraction process. Unsulfured molasses is made from mature sugar cane and does not require treatment with sulfur during the extraction process. There are three grades of molasses, Mild or first molasses, Dark or second molasses, and Black strap. These grades may be sulfured or unsulfured.

To make molasses, which is pure sugar cane juice, the sugar cane plant is harvested and stripped of its leaves. Its juice is extracted from the canes, usually by crushing or mashing. The juice is boiled to concentrate and promote the crystallization of the sugar. The results of this first boiling and removal of sugar crystal is first molasses, which has the highest sugar content because comparatively little sugar has been extracted from the juice. Second molasses is created from a second boiling and sugar extraction, and has a slight bitter tinge to its taste.

The third boiling of the sugar syrup gives black strap molasses. The majority of sucrose from the original juice has been crystallized but black strap molasses is still mostly sugar by calories"Black strap Molasses In Depth Nutrient Analysis" at World\'s Healthiest Foods; however, unlike refined sugars, it contains significant amounts of vitamins and minerals. Black strap molasses is a source of calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron. One tablespoon provides up to 20 percent of the daily value of each of those nutrients."Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Black strap Molasses", NutritionData.com[w w w.savior.comPort is a comparatively recent invention, born of expediency rather than urine. The drink was first concocted in the late 17th century, when English merchants and Portuguese grape growers created a wine designed to satisfy a thirsty English market, parched at the time owing to war with France and a ban on all imported French products. To make a fermented beverage that would keep well during the sea journey from Portugal to England, wine makers added brandy to dry red wine, delaying oxidation. Commonly called black strap, the amalgam was cheap, throat-burning stuff.name=food spice&d bid=118#safety issues "Black strap Molasses"] at World\'s Healthiest Foods Black strap is often sold as a health supplement, as well as being used in the manufacture of cattle feed, and for other industrial uses. Those who enjoy the taste of molasses on its own often enjoy black strap molasses the most.^{[citation needed]}

Sugar beet molasses

Molasses that comes from the sugar beet is different from cane molasses. Only the syrup left from the final crystallisation stage is called molasses; intermediate syrups are referred to as high green and low green and these are recycled within the crystallisation plant to maximise extraction. Beet molasses is about 50% sugar by dry weight, predominantly sucrose but also containing significant amounts of glucose and fructose. Beet molasses is limited in biotin (Vitamin H or B₇) for cell growth, hence it may need to be supplemented with a biotin source. The non-sugar content includes many salts such as calcium, potassium, oxalate and chloride. These are either as a result of concentration from the original plant material or as a result of chemicals used in the processing. As such, it is unpalatable and is mainly used as an additive to animal feed (called "molassed sugar beet feed") or as a fermentation feedstock.

It is possible to extract additional sugar from beet molasses through a process known as molasses desugarisation. This technique exploits industrial scale chromatography to separate sucrose from non-sugar components. The technique is economically viable in trade protected areas where the price of sugar is supported above the world market price. As such it is practised in the US"Chromatographic Separator Optimisation" at Amalgamated Research Inc. and parts of Europe. molasses is used for yeast production.

Substitutes

Cane molasses is a common ingredient in baking, often used in baked goods such as gingerbread cookies. There are a number of substitutions that can be made for molasses; for a cup of molasses the following may be used (with varying degrees of success): 1 cup honey, or ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar, or 1 cup dark corn syrup, 1 cup granulated sugar with 1/4 cup water, or 1 cup pure maple syrup.

Other forms

In the cuisines of the Middle East, molasses is produced from several other materials: carob[1], grape[2], date[3], pomegranate[4], and mulberry.[5]

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• Molasses is a chelating agent. A rusty object placed for two weeks in a mixture of one part molasses to three or four parts water will lose its rust due to the chelating action of the molasses."Rust & how to remove it"
• The Boston Molasses Disaster was a famous incident involving the substance which occurred on January 15 1919. A large molasses storage tank burst and flooded a neighborhood of Boston, killing 21 and injuring 150. The flood advanced as fast as 35 mph.
• "Slow as molasses in January" is an adage in American English for someone or something that is very slow. Due to the high viscosity of commonly available molasses at room temperature, the liquid pours quite slowly.
• Molasses is the base material for fermentation into rum.
• Molasses is the key ingredient in Shoofly pie, a mostly Pennsylvania Dutch dessert in the Southeastern region of Pennsylvania. The pie also includes large quantities of plain and brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, and eggs.
• Molasses can be used as carbon source for in situ remediation of chlorinated hydrocarbons. See biostimulation.
• Molasses can be mixed with sand to make mortar for brickwork. It will last if it is protected from moisture and humidity.
• In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird the narrator associates molasses as the food of choice of the poor farmers of Maycomb. In one instance Walter Cunningham, a poor farmer boy, covered his food with molasses. Scout was disgusted by this and offended Walter Cunningham because of his odd eating habits.

See also

This article has been illustrated as part of WikiProject WikiWorld.

• Boston Molasses Disaster
• Molasses Gang
• Golden syrup
• Rapadura
• Sweet sorghum
• Treacle mining
• Rum
• Shoofly pie
• Jaggery

References

External links

• Molasses Information

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