Editing Molasses (section)

==Sugar cane molasses==
[[File:Bottle of Molasses.jpg|thumb|150px|A bottle of molasses]]

Sugar cane molasses is an ingredient used in baking and cooking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brerrabbit.com/cooking-with-molasses/ |title=Cooking with Molasses – Brer Rabbit Molasses Recipes – Easy Baking Recipes |work=Brer Rabbit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424130921/http://www.brerrabbit.com/cooking-with-molasses/ |archive-date=2014-04-24 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was popular in the Americas before the 20th century, when it was plentiful and commonly used as a sweetener in foods<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Molasses-Bittersweet-History-3014292.php |title=Molasses' Bittersweet History|last=Hudson |first=Jeff |date=28 January 1998 |access-date=10 March 2021 |work=SF Gate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921001639/http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Molasses-Bittersweet-History-3014292.php |archive-date=2017-09-21}}</ref> and an ingredient in brewing beer in the colonies. [[George Washington]] had a notebook that contains a molasses beer recipe.<ref name="GRASSE">{{cite web |last1=Grasse |first1=Steven |title=A brief history of colonial-era beer (including an awesome Stock Ale recipe) |url=https://www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/featured/colonial-spirits-brief-history-colonial-era-beer-including-sweet-stock-ale-recipe/ |website=Craft Brewing Business |access-date=17 March 2020 |date=6 September 2016 |archive-date=17 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317190447/https://www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/featured/colonial-spirits-brief-history-colonial-era-beer-including-sweet-stock-ale-recipe/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

To produce molasses, sugar cane is harvested and stripped of leaves. Its juice is then extracted, usually by cutting, crushing or mashing. The juice is boiled to produce a concentrate and encourage sugar [[crystallization]]. The result of this first boiling is called ''first syrup ('A' Molasses'') and has the highest sugar content. First syrup is usually referred to in the [[Southern United States]] as ''cane syrup'' rather than molasses. ''Second molasses ('B' Molasses'') is produced by a second boiling and sugar extraction and has a slightly bitter taste.{{citation needed|date = December 2022}}

Boiling the sugar syrup a third time yields dark, [[viscosity|viscous]] ''blackstrap molasses'' (''<nowiki/>'C' Molasses''), known for its robust flavour. During this process, the majority of [[sucrose]] from the original juice is crystallized and removed. The bitterness of blackstrap molasses is much greater than in the regular form of molasses.<ref>{{Cite book |title=All-Time Best Holiday Baking 2016 |publisher=Cook's Illustrated |year=2016 |isbn= |editor-last=Ginsberg |editor-first=Megan |location=Brookline |pages=52–53 |language=en-US}}</ref> It is sometimes used in baking or to produce [[ethanol]], as an ingredient in [[cattle feed]], or in yeast production.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Greweling |first=Peter P |title=Chocolates & Confections: Formula, Theory, and Technique for the Artisan Confectioner |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-470-42441-4 |edition=2nd |location=Hoboken, New Jersey |pages=3}}</ref> Exaggerated health benefits claimed for blackstrap molasses were the theme of the 1951 [[novelty song]] [[Black Strap Molasses (song)|''Black Strap Molasses'']], recorded by [[Groucho Marx]], [[Jimmy Durante]], [[Jane Wyman]] and [[Danny Kaye]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Fleck |first=H. C. |title=Toward Better Teaching of Home Economics | publisher=Macmillan |year=1968 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6Bg8AAAAIAAJ |page=195 |isbn=9780023382901 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206150124/https://books.google.com/books?id=6Bg8AAAAIAAJ |archive-date=2017-12-06}}</ref>

Unlike highly refined sugars, molasses contains significant amounts of [[vitamin B6|vitamin B<sub>6</sub>]] and [[mineral]]s, including [[calcium]], [[magnesium]], [[iron]] and [[manganese]]; one tablespoon provides up to 20% of the recommended daily value of each of those nutrients. Blackstrap is also a good source of [[potassium]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tukua |first1=Deborah |date=27 January 2020 |title=These Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses May Surprise You |url=https://www.farmersalmanac.com/12-health-benefits-of-blackstrap-molasses-you-need-to-know-106405 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107051046/https://www.farmersalmanac.com/12-health-benefits-of-blackstrap-molasses-you-need-to-know-106405 |archive-date=2021-11-07 |access-date=2021-11-07 |website=Farmers' Armanac}}</ref>

===Madeira Island===
On [[Madeira|Madeira Island]] cane molasses is an important constituent of the traditional cuisine, where it is known as ''mel-de-cana'' ([[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] for "(sugar)cane honey").<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mel de Cana|url=https://www.visitmadeira.pt/pt-pt/a-madeira/produtos-regionais/mel-de-cana|access-date=2022-02-16|website=www.visitmadeira.pt|archive-date=2022-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216211254/https://www.visitmadeira.pt/pt-pt/a-madeira/produtos-regionais/mel-de-cana|url-status=live}}</ref> Its origin in Madeira dates back to the golden age of sugar production in the archipelago.<ref name="Crosby2015">{{cite book|author=Alfred W. Crosby|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5KKNCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA77|title=Ecological Imperialism, The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900–1900|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2015|isbn=978-1-107-56987-4|edition=2|page=77|access-date=25 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106002634/https://books.google.com/books?id=5KKNCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA77|archive-date=6 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The 'White Gold' Era|url=http://www.visitmadeira.pt/en-gb/madeira/history/era-of-white-gold|access-date=2021-10-02|website=www.visitmadeira.pt|archive-date=2021-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003001357/http://www.visitmadeira.pt/en-gb/madeira/history/era-of-white-gold|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=davide|title=Madeira Ruled the Sugar Trade|url=https://www.portuguesemuseum.org/?page_id=1808&category=3&exhibit=&event=184|access-date=2021-11-11|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111232354/https://portuguesemuseum.org/?page_id=1808&category=3&exhibit=&event=184|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ponting 2000 482">{{cite book|last=Ponting|first=Clive|title=World history: a new perspective|publisher=Chatto & Windus|year=2000|isbn=0-7011-6834-X|location=London|page=482|author-link=Clive Ponting}}</ref>