Raw Sugar
There are several types of raw sugar currently available on the market.. By 
far the most common of these, a raw sugar traded globally in large quantities (over twenty million tons every year) is VHP raw sugar. VHP raw sugar is a Brazilian invention that revolutionized the global sugar trade in the early 90’s by allowing sugar producers to sell very high sucrose raw sugar product to refineries instead of the traditional raw sugars which needed a great deal of processing to create ICUMSA 45 sugar.
In addition to VHP raw sugar it is still possible to purchase traditional raw sugar, which has undergone very little processing, is a deep brown color with a very sticky texture, and is much lower quality than VHP raw sugar. This type of sugar is not suitable for human consumption as it often contains a great deal of contaminants and bacteria.
Consumable raw sugars are a family of raw sugars which have undergone some processing and purification to make them suitable for human consumption. Because they are not refined, they still contain many of the vitamins and nutrients which are present in raw sugar, but without the health risks.
Then there are the traditional forms of raw sugar which undergo rough processing to make products which are normally consumed in poorer regions of the world. This type of sugar is occasionally stocked at specialty stores, but as it is usually produced by villagers locally and need not conform to health standards or protocols it is to be consumed at the buyers risk.
Producing Raw Sugar
Raw sugar is obtained from processing sugar cane or sugar beet. The methods for extracting sucrose from each of these sources are quite different. In the case of sugar cane, the cane is harvested, washed, and then crushed to extract a natural juice which is very high in sucrose. Sugar beet, on the other hand, is sliced very thinly and then put into a hot water diffuser. In the hot water diffuser, water at very high temperatures is circulated around the slices of sugar beet, dissolving the sucrose in the beet into the water.
In both methods the raw juice is generally contaminated with organic and non organic contaminants, which need to be removed in order for the sugar to be refined. In the case of raw sugar however, this juice may simply be boiled until the liquid evaporates to a point where sugar crystals begin to form, and the crystals may dried off and sold without any further treatment. This type of raw sugar is not suitable for human consumption and may easily reach ICUMA levels of 3000 or more.
VHP Raw Sugar
VHP Raw sugar undergoes significantly more processing than standard raw sugar in order to concentrate the sucrose content of the sugar and remove a large portion of contaminants. The production of VHP raw sugar involves boiling the raw juice, allowing the crystals to form, and then sending the juice and crystals into a centrifugal chamber which spins at high speed, driving off the liquid molasses, and leaving the sugar crystals behind.
The liquid molasses driven off in the first stage of processing is then usually reboiled as it still contains a great deal of sucrose. The reboiled liquid is left to cool, sucrose crystals form once more, and the mix is once more sent into the centrifugal chamber. The process is then repeated one final time. The liquid molasses drawn off in the last centrifugal process is known as ‘Blackstrap Molasses’ and is sold in health food stores and other such outlets as a health supplement because it contains large amounts of iron, magnesium, and potassium.
Consumable Raw Sugar
Consumable raw sugars are sold direct to consumers in developed nations, and are sugars which have not been refined, but which have generally been purified in some fashion to remove bacteria and contaminants. Examples of consumable raw sugars include Demerera sugar, Turbinado sugar, and Muscovado raw sugar. These sugars generally retain a molasses flavor because unlike refined sugar, the molasses are not as rigorously driven off the sugar crystals, and in many cases, are not removed at all. This means that consumable raw sugars contain similar vitamins and minerals as Blackstrap molasses. However this does not necessarily mean that consumable raw sugars are ‘healthy’ per se, as they still contain a great deal of so called ‘empty calories’.
Hailing from Barbados, Muscovado sugar is made by baking cane juice, and then purifying it with coconut milk. As a result, Muscovado sugar is dark brown in color, with a crumbly texture and a high moisture content. Muscovado sugar is quite commonly used in baking because it not only sweetens the baked goods, but also adds extra moisture to the baking process.
Demerara sugar comes from Guyana, and is a large crystal golden sugar often used in coffee and tea because of its sweet distinctive molasses flavor. Demerara sugar is produced directly from freshly crushed sugar cane juice and contains all the goodness and taste of the molasses it is made with.
Traditional Raw Sugars
Traditional raw sugars include sugar products such as Jaggery. Known in India as ‘Gur’, Jaggery is made by pressing boiled cane juice into cones. In India it is regarded as being a foodstuff, not merely a sweetener, and it is quite often consumed in order to alleviate health complaints such as coughs and colds, lung disease, and constipation. Jaggery can sometimes be found in specialty stores, though it is difficult to obtain a consistent product. Some jaggery might be hard, whilst other jaggery could be quite soft. Variances in color are quite common too. This is because jaggery is produced on a small scale in a cottage industry context and there are no real set guidelines for its production.
Purchasing Raw Sugar
Most buyers looking to purchase raw sugar will be in the market for VHP raw sugar as it is a more economical option than traditional raw sugar, which will require the buyer to purchase much more product in order to extract the same amount of sucrose as a smaller amount of VHP raw sugar, and the refining process will have to be much more intense than that used with VHP raw sugar.
Brazil is currently the largest exporter of VHP raw sugar, exporting the bulk of the twenty million tons mentioned at the beginning of this article. If you are interested in purchasing raw sugar, or have questions regarding raw sugar, please fill out this contact form below, and I will get back to you with options and price quotation.