Sugar cane producers make their tasty product from sugar cane plants--a grass native to tropical regions of the world. Not surprisingly, given Americans' love of sweets, the United States is the second largest sugar importer in the world, and much of what we import is from sugar cane growers. Many people consider the sweetener made from sugar cane the finest sugar available anywhere.
But sugar cane sugar comes in several varieties. Which one do you need for your restaurant, bakery, catering or other food business? Stop and consider the following before you buy cane sugar:
1. Granulated sugar cane sugar has the widest application.
2. Baker's and superfine sugar cane sugar are ideal for coatings or applications where the sugar needs to dissolve quickly.
3. Powered and brown sugar cane sugars are widely used for sweets.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Buy sugar cane granulated sugar for most of your baking needs
Granulated sugar is the type most consumers are familiar with, and the bulk of baking uses it--both commercially and in homes. (It is sometimes also called "table sugar" or "white sugar.") It's made up of fine crystals and is pure white in color.
I recommend: Dutch Valley Food Distributors offers a nice selection of various types of wholesale cane sugar, including white granulated cane sugar.
Roselli Wholesale Foods also sells granulated sugar from the sugar cane plant.
Choose baker's and superfine sugar cane sugar for special treatments
Baker's sugar is even more fine than granulated sugar, and was developed specifically for commercial baking. It is commonly used for sugaring the tops of cookies or donuts. Superfine sugar is the finest of all types of white sugar, and it's perfect for meringues and iced-drinks because it dissolves quite quickly.
I recommend: Imperial Sugar Company offers wholesale superfine and baker's cane sugar.
Southwest Wholesale Foods carries several varieties of wholesale cane sugar, including the superfine variety.
Select powered or brown sugar cane sugar for baking sweets
Powdered sugar (also called "confectioner's sugar") looks like a smooth powder and contains a tiny amount of cornstarch to prevent it from caking. Brown sugar is made of white sugar that's been coated with molasses. Dark brown sugar has more molasses and a richer flavor than light brown sugar.
I recommend: Nicole's Gourmet Foods offers sugar cane wholesale, including several brown and powered sugars.
Mamma Roma Ltd also provides brown sugars for your business.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- The best way to prevent brown sugar cane sugar from hardening is to store it in an airtight container--preferably in a refrigerator or freezer. Frozen brown sugar thaws in about an hour, and you should allow refrigerated brown sugar to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before using.
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