raw sugar

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Raw sugar is the product of sugar manufacturing before it undergoes refining. It consists of pale yellow to brown sugar crystals that are coated with a film of syrup. This sugar is derived from either sugarcane, a tropical grass, or sugar beets, a root crop grown in temperate regions.12

The production process involves extracting juice from the harvested plants, clarifying and concentrating it into a syrup, and then crystallizing the sugar. This raw sugar is then typically stored in bags or bulk for industrial refinement into the white sugar commonly used in households and food production. While chemically identical to refined sugar, raw sugar retains some molasses, giving it its color and distinct flavor.234

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sugar
Crystal separation and drying
This raw sugar, the sugar of commerce, is stored in bags in countries where labour is abundant and cheap. Generally, however, it is stored in bulk and shipped loose, like grain, in dry-bulk ships to areas where it will be refined.
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This raw sugar, the sugar of commerce, is stored in bags in countries where labour is abundant and cheap. Generally, however, it is stored in bulk and shipped loose, like grain, in dry-bulk ships to areas where it will be refined.
Read More