Sugar

Other names: sugar, cane sugar, beet sugar, palm sugar, coconut sugar, brown sugar, white sugar, maple syrup, molasses, sucrose

Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)

Sugar is an essential ingredient in the production of many foods that we consume every day, often without realising it. There are many types of sugar, depending on the source from which it is made. The most common are cane sugar and beet sugar, which are derived from sugar cane or sugar beets. Other types of sugar, such as palm sugar and coconut sugar, come from the palm and coconut trees. There is also brown sugar, which is obtained from cane, and white sugar, a refining process from brown sugar. Maple syrup is a sweetener made from the sap of the sugar maple tree. Molasses is a by-product of sugar production, specifically the thick, dark syrup that remains after sugar crystallization. Sucrose is the chemical name for common table sugar, it is a disaccharide made up of glucose and fructose.

Sugar is used in many food products. In particular, it is a key ingredient in bakery and confectionery products such as cakes, pastries, chocolate, confectionery, but also ice cream. It is added to drinks such as lemonades, fruit juices, tea and coffee. White sugar is often used in the home kitchen, for example in cakes, biscuits and preserves. Brown sugar gives foods a specific caramel flavour and is popular for baking cakes and biscuits. Molasses can be used as a sweetener for bread, muffins or gingerbread. Maple syrup is popular as a sweetener for pancakes, waffles or yogurt. Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar and is popular in healthy diets. In contrast, palm sugar is mainly used in Asian cuisine. Sucrose is an essential sugar that is added to many foods and drinks to increase their sweetness.