Sugar in contemporary cooking
Sugar has been the subject of controversy in the modern culinary world. Considered by many to be the villain of the kitchen, this ingredient has been demonized and labeled as harmful in all its forms. However, the key lies in its moderate and conscious use.
An alternative that is often perceived as healthier is brown sugar. What few people know is that some brands market white sugar disguised as brown sugar, thus misleading consumers in certain establishments.
The trick of disguised white sugar
In the past, it used to be said that in the old inns customers were deceived with the ‘cat in a hare’. Currently, one of the most common tricks in the gastronomic field is to pass white sugar for brown sugar. Although both are sugars, brown sugar is perceived as slightly healthier than white, making it more attractive to those who want to sweeten their recipes without resorting to processed sugar.
In addition to color, the main difference between white and brown sugar lies in the processing of the product, from the extraction of sugar cane to its packaging for sale to the public.
The problem arises when white and processed sugar are dyed brown, literally turning it into brown sugar by its appearance. Some companies take advantage of this trick to confuse buyers and pass off white sugar as brown sugar, a ruse that does not benefit consumers.
The true nature of jaggery
What is commonly known as brown sugar, the supposedly ‘healthy’ one, is actually unprocessed sugar or less processed than white sugar. It is crucial to understand that dyeing white sugar brown does not make it brown sugar in the true sense of the term, despite its color.
To avoid being deceived, it is essential to read product labels carefully. Advertising can often be misleading, and some companies take advantage of legal loopholes to sell their products, which can lead to confusion. It is essential to check the information detailed on the back label of the product to ensure that it corresponds to what you are looking for.
When purchasing ingredients, it is important to do so consciously and avoid falling into traps that could harm the quality of our culinary preparations.