What’s The Difference Between Coconut Sugar and Brown Sugar?
Coconut sugar and brown sugar are both popular types of sugar. They look and taste similar. But what are their main differences?
There are two main differences between coconut sugar and brown sugar:
The ways in which they’re produced.
Their Glycemic Index (GI) levels.
Today I am going to talk about the way they are produced (since I’m not really allowed to say anything about the GI levels!)
Coconut sugar is produced from the sap of coconut tree flowers, whereas brown sugar is essentially white sugar with molasses added to it.
The nectar of the coconut tree is collected and then gently heated at a low temperature to create coconut nectar. This is the nectar that we bottle directly.
We then take that nectar and gently dry it out. Again under low temperatures so that no nutrients are lost. This drying process results in the nectar crystalizing which can then be ground to a traditional sugar consistency.
Brown sugar on the other hand is made from granulated white sugar with molasses added.
Granulated white sugar is beet or cane sugar that has been crystallized.
Molasses is a dark syrup derived from crushed sugar cane or sugar beets.
To make brown sugar the white sugar is mixed with molasses. This is what gives brown sugar its distinctive colour.
Brown sugar comes in both light and dark varieties. The difference between the two is the amount of molasses added. This affects both the colour and the texture of the sugar.
One of my most frequently asked questions is: Can you substitute coconut sugar for brown sugar?
The simple answer is, yes!
You can easily substitute coconut sugar for brown sugar as they are similar in taste. There are some subtle differences, you may notice your final dish has a slightly more caramel taste than when you use regular brown sugar.
They are similar enough that they definitely make good substitutions for each other.
Both types of sugar are gluten-free and have a similar number of calories. There is a difference in the Glycemic Index (GI) levels. If you want to know more about that then I recommend you do a google search!
Bear in mind that, unlike coconut sugar, brown sugar isn’t always considered vegan. This is because brown sugar is often refined using a process involving bone char derived from animals.
If you’re vegan you are safe with coconut sugar!
My second most frequently asked question: Does Coconut Sugar Taste Like Coconut?
No! Coconut sugar does not taste or smell like coconut.
Because is it made from the sap of the coconut tree, as opposed to the coconut fruit itself, taste wise there is no indication that it’s from a coconut tree!
The flavor of coconut sugar can vary depending on the brand and the harvest. In general coconut sugar tastes a little more like caramel than regular brown sugar. You will also notice that Three By One Coconut Sugar is a much lighter shade than many other commercial coconut sugars. This is because we only heat it at a low temperature to keep it raw.
So go ahead, make the switch, and let me know what you think!
I don’t think you will be disappointed ;-)
