Sugar

December 17, 2010 12:20 AM

Sugar collecting is an interesting hobby. The thought of collecting sugar packets sparked my curiousity at first and now I enjoy all types of sugar information. Sugar really has been important through the ages, as a commodity, a sign of wealth, a metaphor for happiness. On my site, you will find historical information, facts and pictures, etc. To me, I see sugar more as a decoration [also, previously] instead of a food. The concept of sugar can be so universal. Embark upon an adventure through this website and take a look at sugar through my eyes.

Aside from white granulated sugar, sugar comes in many forms: "brown sugar" is usually white sugar with molasses added for color and moisture (and how do you keep brown sugar from turning hard?); muscovado is an unrefined brown sugar; turbinado is a partially refined brown sugar available in the U.S.; demerara is a slightly different unrefined brown sugar found in the U.K.

When talking about where sugar comes from, most people think of sugar cane but your table sugar may be made out of beets. Palm sugar is produced across Southeast Asia and India; date palms are also used to produce the popular sweetener jaggery (and a form of booze known as toddy).

How sweet it is.

previously⚠, previously!, previously♡, previously*, previously☁, previously℞, previously?, previously??, previously?!?, previously…

posted by Deathalicious (14 comments total)

In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women.
posted by milarepa at 12:40 AM on December 17, 2010

The need for brown sugar in American baking will drive expats in Europe crazy. Just because the topic is sugar, I want to point out: The Belgians have good brown sugar. Surely someone will end up here on a quest to find brown sugar in Europe.
posted by Goofyy at 12:42 AM on December 17, 2010

a metaphor for happiness

A metaphor for shit?

>"Shit!"

And as olde people are wont to reply...

>"Say sugar, it tastes nicer."
posted by uncanny hengeman at 12:50 AM on December 17, 2010

Eponysterical? (NOT SUGARIST)
posted by retronic at 1:03 AM on December 17, 2010

Eponysterical? (NOT SUGARIST)

A quick story about my username. A long time ago, I chose the handle FunnyYetTasty, because I am funny and can cook (that's the theory, anyway). At some point, the name was taken somewhere so I switched to Deathalicious. If you look at my history, you'll see I post about food all the time.
posted by Deathalicious at 1:22 AM on December 17, 2010

Heh. I used to collect sugar packets as a kid. Right up to the point where I realised I was collecting collections and should probably start getting into girls, underage drinking & the like.

The need for brown sugar in American baking will drive expats in Europe crazy.

The ability of expats everywhere to miraculously forget that they are in a different country & culture and not back at home is always amusing. E.g:
A: OMG! I can't get Mexican food anywhere?! I don't believe it!
B: Yeah. Remember how you moved from a country with many Mexican immigrants which is right next door to Mexico to one that has had no major historical connection with Mexico and is 5,000 miles away from it?
posted by i_cola at 2:30 AM on December 17, 2010

An excellent post, to be sure, and I will be investigating various links. But what the fuck
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 2:59 AM on December 17, 2010

Sure, I collect sugar... on my hips.
posted by fairmettle at 4:14 AM on December 17, 2010

everybody loves a lil sugar!
posted by Raunchy 60s Humour at 4:36 AM on December 17, 2010

In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women.

That's pretty close to the truth: Sweetness and Power (Book).
posted by TedW at 6:00 AM on December 17, 2010

I remember having a moment of epiphany back in about grade 9 during a Social Studies lesson on Europe.

Europeans grew sugar beet for sugar. Aussies grew sugar cane [and how!]. I'd always assumed there was only one plant source to obtain refined sugar.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 6:20 AM on December 17, 2010

There used to be "the worllds largest sugar packet collection" in the Marblehead, MA, town hall. No longer there, did it get eaten?
posted by Xurando at 7:41 AM on December 17, 2010

Sweetness and Power

This gave me flashbacks to my deeply detested senior seminar for my anthropology major and sent me screaming from the room. Thanks a lot.
posted by naoko at 8:25 AM on December 17, 2010

My favorite sugar packet text: Sugar Contains no Fat.
posted by straight at 12:19 PM on December 17, 2010