- 1. Crystal sugar
- 2. Icing sugar
- 3. Brown sugar
- 4. Demerara sugar
- 5. Light sugar
- 6. Organic sugar
- 7. Coconut sugar
Sugar can vary according to the origin of the product and its manufacturing process. Most of the sugar consumed is made from sugar cane, but there are also products like coconut sugar.
Sugar is a type of simple carbohydrate that should be avoided and consumed only in small amounts, preferably without using it in your daily diet. Excessive consumption can cause problems such as weight gain, diabetes and inflammation in the body.
Here are 7 types of sugar and their characteristics:
1. Crystal sugar
Crystal sugar, like refined sugar, has large, irregular crystals, which are transparent or slightly yellow, easy to dissolve. During its manufacture, chemicals are added to make it white and tasty, but as a result, vitamins and minerals are lost.
Although most of the crystal sugar is white, it is also possible to find it in different colors, being used mainly to decorate birthday cakes and sweets. To obtain pink, blue or orange sugar, for example, the industry adds artificial colors during its preparation. Discover 10 natural ways to replace sugar.
2. Icing sugar
Icing sugar has very fine grains and is ideal for making preparations such as whipped cream, toppings and more homogeneous icings, in addition to being used to decorate cakes and pies. It has the appearance of talcum powder or thin snow, it dilutes much more easily than crystal sugar, and during its manufacture, starch is added to the formula, so that the super small grains do not come together again.
3. Brown sugar
Brown sugar is obtained from the cooking of sugarcane syrup, maintaining a good part of its nutrients, such as iron, folic acid and calcium. Because it is not refined, it also has larger and darker grains, which do not dilute as easily as refined sugar, and which have a flavor very similar to that of sugar cane.
Despite being one of the healthiest versions, it is also rich in calories, and should only be consumed in small amounts.
4. Demerara sugar
Similar to brown sugar, demerara is differentiated by undergoing a light purification and refinement process, but without the use of chemical additives. It also maintains the minerals present in sugar cane, and dilutes more easily and tastes milder than brown sugar.
5. Light sugar
Light sugar is obtained from a mixture between refined sugar and artificial or natural sweeteners, making the final product have a greater sweetening power than ordinary sugar, but with fewer calories. However, its flavor is somewhat reminiscent of the artificial flavor of sweeteners, and it should also not be used in cases of diabetes.
6. Organic sugar
Organic sugar has the same calories as regular sugar, but preserves a small part of the nutrients present in sugar cane. The main difference is that during the production of organic sugar, no artificial ingredients, fertilizers, chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used in any stage. It also differentiates itself by not being refined, having a thicker and darker shape, in addition to having a more expensive price.
7. Coconut sugar
Coconut sugar is obtained from coconut sap, and is not extracted from coconut fruit. It is a minimally processed food, containing no preservatives or undergoing refinement processes, as with ordinary sugar. It has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar, helping not to alter blood glucose too much.
In addition, it contains minerals such as iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium, and B vitamins.
It is important to remember that because it is a simple carbohydrate, all types of sugar should be avoided in cases of diabetes, in addition to being consumed only in small amounts to keep health and weight balanced.
See the calorie difference between types of sugar and artificial sweeteners.
