Brands of sugar?

[chowser]

I hear people talk about how they've found their favorite brands of flour, butter, type eggs but never sugar. Is there a brand of sugar that you always get? How about brown sugar? I just tried Trader Joe's organic sugar and really liked how the cookies turned out. But, it was a new recipe and could just have been the recipe. Favorites?

[blackpointyboots]

I would usually buy whatever sugar was on sale. For the longest I could not figure out why I sometimes got a bag of sugar that had the faint aroma of dirty socks. I started looking at the bag labels. The beet sugar (usually the store brand) had the off smell to it. So I started buying the big bags of C&H cane from Sam's. We make almost everything from scratch so we go through quite a bit. I won't buy beet sugar any longer. I have started buying C&H brown sugar also. I notice a much better and more significant flavor to it.

[drstanley]

If anyone is interested, white cane sugar is NOT vegan because it is processed using bone char (animal bone). Beet sugar IS vegan since it is not processed in the same way. Raw sugar IS vegan since it is not processed at all. So price is not always the only issue in selecting store brand vs. name brand.

[paulj]

but there may insect bits and parts in raw sugar ....

[Bill Hunt]

I have several, but all are "raw" sugar. The first is "Maui Brand," but I can only get it via Internet, or in the Islands. Next is GW "Unwashed," but that is not really common on the Mainland. Then, there are the other variations of "raw" sugar.

We used to purchase a 50# bag of "raw" sugar, from the sugar "refinery" up river from New Orleans. This would last us a year, unless the Bulldog got into the pantry.

So, some do have favorite sugars.

Hunt

[Boccone Dolce]

I never really cared, until I tried these brownish crystals from Florida Crystals. They were on Clearance, so I grabbed a jug to try. I wish I bought more-that sugar made the BEST peanut brittle. I don't bake much and we use Splenda in our coffee but I'll buy the Fl Crystals again
http://www.floridacrystals.com/Defaul...

[roxlet]

This is so very interesting. I was in TJ a week or so ago and the label "cane sugar" caught my eye and I started thinking about sugar. Does anyone know what stores -- aside from TJs -- in the NY tri-state area carry cane sugar? I use sugar primarily for baking, so this could be truly significant!

[Nancy Berry]

The Domino brand of pure cane sugar is sold in the NY tri-state area. You can buy this brand in most grocery stores.

http://www.dominosugar.com

[maria lorraine]

I just read that some Domino is not cane sugar, however.

[roxlet]

I just checked today in our A&P in Bronxville and the Domino's Sugar plainly said, "Pure Cane Sugar" on the wrapper. I guess I never paid attention before.

[chowser]

Since this thread, I've started paying more attention. Right now I have Domino's and it is pure cane sugar. I haven't done side by side comparisons with baking which is about the only time I use sugar. I rarely do caramelizations. But, I am curious about the difference between cane and beet sugar. I wonder if any of it has to do with processing. I'll run it by my brother who's a chemical engineer.

[adamshoe]

Count me as in the C&H camp, too. However, I will buy a cheaper brand occasionally as long as it's CANE sugar. C&H also makes unwashed Hawaiian cane crystals which work as both Turbinado style and sanding sugar (for decorating cookies, etc.). Beet sugar= Feh!

[KaimukiMan]

you might want to double check that. as far as I know there is no commercial sugar production in hawaii at this time. c&h does indeed have washed raw sugar, but I don't think it is from hawaii any more.

[alanbarnes]

While it's true that a lot of cane fields have been repurposed and a lot of refineries shut down, Alexander & Baldwin still plants tens of thousands of acres on Maui in sugar and processes the cane at the mill in Pu'unene.

[maria lorraine]

Gay and Robinson have 7500 acres of cane on Kauai, but as of 2010, IIRC, will use the cane to make ethanol and electricity, not sugar.

Alan is correct -- A&B (as Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.), has 35,000 acres of cane on Maui. A&B's business has boomed producing specialty sugars like turbinado for C&H and the brand "Sugar in the Raw", though the Hawaii sugar industry is seriously hurting. Most of A&B's sugar is shipped to C&H in the San Francisco Bay Area for refining.

[alkapal]

ach, good food again going to ethanol! a sacrilege.

i've found that some store brands have a lot of more "powdery" sugar. maybe that is the beet sugar? now, i buy domino. haven't seen c and h brand.

and caster sugar is not necessarily different than regular sugar, right? i'm thinking that any kind of sugar may be transformed into caster sugar, or superfine sugar, or confectioner's sugar (with cornstarch, right?).

[Caitlin McGrath]

C&H is mostly sold in the western half of the country, Domino in the eastern.

[KaimukiMan]

I got the following from C&H

Thank you for your interest in our Washed Raw Sugar and for taking the time to contact C&H Sugar Co. There are two remaining sugar mills in Hawaii--Alexander & Baldwin (http://www.alexanderbaldwin.com/businesses/agribusiness.php#hcands) on Maui and Robinson & Gay (http://members.aol..com/_ht_a/pakala/... ) on Kauai. We source the sugar for the Washed Raw exclusively from Hawaii.

Best regards,

Connie C. Hunter, C&H Sugar Co.

[raepot]

I have moved to Knoxville, Tn. and can't find my favorite sugar..don't remember the name but you mentioned it ...comes in milk carton like cintainer, is super fine and costs a little more...I need the nme so I can see if it is sold anywhere in this city. Thanks for any info

[paulj]

C&H sells sugar in a carton, but as far as I can tell, it is the same as their 'granulated white' sold in bags. It is more expensive per pound than the bag, but that's because of packaging and size.

I don't know if anyone sells finer bakers sugar in cartons or not.

[Ruth Lafler]

As someone said above, C&H sells "bakers sugar" (superfine sugar) in cartons.

http://www.bakerssugar.com/start.htm

[raepot]

thanks so much for the brand name....not available anywhere in Tennessee so had to order online and pay lots...but worth it.

[Snackish]

I have begun using superfine baking sugar for everything. It is such a pleasure because it dissolves so quickly. It is great to make homemade candied nuts and kettle corn with.

[chowser]

Is it a 1:1 substitution? Do you make your own from regular sugar or just buy superfine?

[Snackish]

I buy superfine. It comes in a big milk carton like thing and it substitutes 1:1. It is more expensive but worth it to me,since one half gallon sized carton lasts me 6 months or more.

[Candy]

I like super fine too or baker's sugar. I think it is much better in baked goods.
We can only get the little boxes which get expensive but in a pinch I have put regular sugar in the food processor and ground it fine.

[raepot]

what is the name of this sugar

[Kelli2006]

Bakers sugar is not a 1-1 substitution by volume because it is a finer product. I remove 1 TBL per cup if the recipe is written for granulated sugar. It is obviously the same if you measure by weight.

You can make bakers sugar in the food processor by pulsing the granulated sugar on high for 15-20 pulses. I only tend to make a few cups at a time because it clumps quite readily.

C&H is the typical brand of bakers sugar, and it is always made from cane.

[Caitlin McGrath]

And the C&H baker's sugar package (the "milk carton" Snackish referred to) says it substitutes 1:1 by volume for granulated sugar.

[Kelli2006]

There is a article in the back of this months Cooks Illustrated about making bakers sugar, and it states that I cup of ultrafine sugar is equal to 1 cup plus 2 tsp of granulated sugar.

[Karl S]

I have switched in recent years to having superfine (caster) sugar instead of granulated as my pantry staple, and despite the increased expense it is so much more convenient, as it handles better for so much.

[chowser]

Thanks, Candy and winedude--this is great information. I'm going to start paying more attention to sugar now. I'd read about the beet vs cane sugar a while back but didn't pay a lot of attention to it. I haven't seen the better brands of brown sugar but will pick some up next time. I know I haven't seen Bilington's but just bought a new organic fair trade one(didn't know if sugar was something to pay attention to as fair trade goes, like coffee or chocolate) that I've never seen before. I have mixed my own with white sugar and brown and it turns out well. I knew I'd get good info here.

[winedude]

I'm known as a bit of a sugar fanatic. I use domino for white granulated, as it seems fine, and I don't know if the store brands are any different or less good, but it's not worth saving 60 cents over 5 pounds to find out.

However, for brown and turbinado sugars, I've found there's a world of difference if you use some of the premium brands. I tried TJ's turbinado, and it was OK, but the ones sold by Billington's, a UK brand that they sell in my local Shaw's market (Boston area) and which you can buy online at Amazon is MUCH MUCH better. Their sugars are from Mauritius, and you can really taste the caramel flavor you want. Their light brown sugar is very good for baking, and I use their dark brown sugar for my chocolate cookies, and people love the taste. I've also used the sugars from India Tree, which are more expensive, but are also excellent. They sell those at Williams Sonoma, or onliine at Amazon. But beware, you won't want to use cheaper sugar again.

[relizabeth]

I'm an American living in the UK and am so in LOVE with Billington's Molasses sugar that it will be what I give as Christmas presents to people back home. It makes the most mundane oatmeal cookies into something magical. I've always had a bit of a brown sugar problem, but a lump of this stuff is like candy.

[Bill Hunt]

Wow, we normally travel to the UK with our "unrefined, raw sugar." Is Billington's Molasses Sugar available at say Tesco's, or do we need to go to a specialty shop? We let a flat in Mayfair, on Curzon, but I'll tube for good sugar. You may have just saved me overweight baggage on the outbound trip!

Thank you for this rec.

Hunt

[alkapal]

bill, that's a great neighborhood. mr. alkas's office used to be on carlos place, near the mermaid statue. their office frequented fino's wine cellar just nearby on mount street. fun place for pre-dinner drinks. http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/restaura...

[relizabeth]

This sugar is fabulous, but not very posh. I get it at my Sainsburys in Dalston, but have also seen it an any large supermarket, or grocery with a natural bent. I bought it first because it was the cheapest of their brown sugars (isnt molasses a byproduct?) but now it is my crack.

[Candy]

I buy Domino or C&H. They are cane sugars and react differently than the cheap store brand sugars which are beet sugar. It doesn't even smell good and after an embarassing occasion where my caramel sauce glued peoples forks to their plates I'd never risk anything with the cheap stuff again.

Someone posted an article a year or two ago from the SF Chronicle on the subject. They tested recipes side by side and the products made with cane sugar were superior to those made with beet sugar.

Regulars know i am a fanatic on the subject. Beet sugar made it into my house once by accident and never will again.

[LindaWhit]

Candy, I was just at my local Roche Bros. today, and their store brand of granulated sugar is 100% cane sugar, and since I was needing another 5 lb. bag, I bought one. And it was 50 cents less than Domino. So while it pays to make sure you're getting cane sugar, not *all* store brands are derived from beet sugar.

[Candy]

You have to be careful. Most store brands are. If a bag or box is not labled pure cane sugar or 100% cane sugar then you are getting beet sugar.

[LindaWhit]

Good to know. I hadn't thought about looking at what the package said until I read your post. Thanks.

[maria lorraine]

Candy,

I think it was me who posted about the very different results from cane vs. beet sugar in cooking, baking, etc. and the San Francisco Chronicle Food Section story on this. I've reposted the link above -- fascinating.

M.

[paulj]

That SF article dates from 1999. Is there anything more recent? How about something from Europe, where beet sugar has a longer history? Has ATK looked at this difference?

[maria lorraine]

Paulj,

The question for me is...

What is the difference in the chemical structure of cane sugar and beet sugar that causes the cane to caramelize beautifully but the beet to burn to black with no intermediate caramelization stage?

I don't have the answer but I do know that somewhere the scientific explanation exists.

Being a food chem geek, I don't believe the oft-repeated phrase that "they're chemically identical -- both are 99.95% C12H22O11" nor do I believe the differences in performance can be explained by the minute .05% difference in "mineral" content between the two.

The differences between the two sugars have to something more fundamental.

Caramelization, to continue with that example (although the focus could be crystallization, which beet sugar has a greater tendency to do), is a series of complex chemical reactions. Sugar is broken into glucose and fructose, those two form difructose-anhydride and are also changed into ketoses, IIRC, the precursors of caramel polymers and the chemical reason for caramel flavor and color.

What I suspect, but I don't know, is that something in the chemistry of beet sugar makes it react differently in one or more of those chemical reactions, and the caramel constituents aren't formed.

Dang, I'm so curious now about the reason. I may have to chase it down.

Maria

P.S.: Yes, Europe has used beet sugar longer, but uses cane in their pastry and confectionary.

[LindaWhit]

For white granulated sugar, I buy a store brand. Not worth it to pay the premium price for Dominos. Same for brown sugars.

Otherwise, I also buy TJ's organic or turbinado sugars. They're usually mixed in with the white granulated sugar in my sugar bowl.

[chowser]

I've alway just bought whatever was cheapest, too. I needed sugar and happened to be at TJs which is why I picked up their sugar. That's when I started wondering if it made a difference.

[maria lorraine]

There's an ENORMOUS difference between brands...but that's because store brands are usually beet sugar and C&H and other brands are cane sugar. If the package of sugar doesn't say cane, it's beet.

I first discovered the huge "behavior" differences between cane sugar and beet sugar when making boiled icing. A disaster. Then I tried caramel, which I make all the time -- it became a crystallized beige mess. Then I tried creme brulee -- it burned to a black clump instead of caramelizing. Then I started reading research (finally, an answer!), and one of the friendliest articles on the differences is the SF Chron article. I'm a C&H cane sugar girl all the way now.

To read more about the differences -- very interesting article -- go here:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article...

[filth]

I have noticed cosmetic differences in white granulated sugar between Domino and the store brands (whiter, less foreign matter). I don't think there is any consequence in cooking but it looks better if you serve the sugar.

[paulj]

In some Mexican grocery sections you can find 'azucar morena' - a slightly tan sugar, that's also a bit coarser than American table sugar. I don't think there's much flavor difference, but I keep some on hand, mostly for sprinkling on food (as i might a coarse sea salt).
http://www.mexgrocer.com/2462.html