white sugar

White sugar is granulated sugar that appears white in bulk. It is chemically pure, crystallized sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁), a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose.123

The production of white sugar begins with either sugarcane, grown in tropical and subtropical regions, or sugar beets, cultivated in temperate climates. After harvesting, the plants are processed to extract their sucrose. For sugarcane, this involves crushing the stalks to release the juice, which is then clarified and concentrated. Sugar beets are sliced and soaked in hot water to extract the sugar.4

The extracted juice from either source is purified, concentrated into a syrup, and then crystallized. This process separates sugar crystals from molasses. The raw sugar crystals undergo further refining, which includes dissolving, purification, and recrystallization, to produce the pure white sugar commonly used in households and industries. While chemically identical, some vegans and vegetarians avoid cane sugar processed with bone char, a step not required for beet sugar.45