Kyenjojo Sugar

Manufacturing Process

MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND TECHNOLOGY

Sugar (sucrose) is a carbohydrate found in almost all fruits and vegetables.
It’s a key component of photosynthesis, the process through which plants convert sunlight into food.
Sugar is extracted for commercial usage from sugarcane and sugar beets, where it is found in the highest amounts.
A procedure called as refining separates the natural sugar held in the cane stalk or beetroot from the rest of the plant material.

For sugarcane, the process of refining is carried out in the following steps:

  • Sugarcane juice is extracted by pressing the cane. 
  • Bringing the juice to a boil until it thickens and the sugar crystallizes. 
  • Using a centrifuge to extract the syrup from the crystals, resulting in raw sugar. 
  • The raw sugar is transported to a refinery, where it is cleaned and filtered to eliminate non-sugar components and color. 
  • The refined sugar is crystallized, dried, and packaged. 

The processing of beet sugar is similar to that of cane sugar, however it is done in one continous step without the raw sugar stage.
To extract the sugar-containing juice from the beet fiber, the sugar beets are cleaned, cut, and steeped in hot water.
In a process similar to cane sugar production, the sugar-laden juice is cleansed, filtered, concentrated, and dried.

Capacity utilization in the sugar business is conceptually different from capacity utilization in other sectors.
It is determined by three key factors: the number of tons of sugarcane crushed per day, the recovery rate, which is typically determined by the cane’s quality, and the length of the crushing season.

Because cane is not easily moved, the quality of the cane received by a manufacturer is determined by its location and is beyond its control.
The duration of the crushing season is also determined by the location.


Granulated sugar is crystalline sucrose in its purest form.
Based on crystal size, it may be divided into seven categories of sugar.
Food processors and professional bakers are the only ones who utilize them.
Each crystal size has its own set of functional features that make the sugar suitable for the purposes of the food processor.

TYPES OF SUGAR

Granulated Sugar

There are many different types of granulated sugar. Most of these are used only by food processors and professional bakers and are not available in the supermarket. The types of granulated sugars differ in crystal size. Each crystal size provides unique functional characteristics that make the sugar appropriate for the food processor’s special need.

"Regular" Sugar, Extra Fine or Fine Sugar

“Regular” sugar, as it is known to consumers, is the sugar found in every home’s sugar bowl and most commonly used in home food preparation. It is the white sugar called for in most cookbook recipes. The food processing industry describes “regular” sugar as extra fine or fine sugar. It is the sugar most used by food processors because of its fine crystals that are ideal for bulk handling and are not susceptible to caking.

Fruit Sugar

Fruit sugar is slightly finer than “regular” sugar and is used in dry mixes such as gelatin desserts, pudding mixes and drink mixes. Fruit sugar has a more uniform crystal size than “regular” sugar. The uniformity of crystal size prevents separation or settling of smaller crystals to the bottom of the box, an important quality in dry mixes and drink mixes.

Superfine, Ultra fine, or Bar Sugar

FThis sugar’s crystal size is the finest of all the types of granulated sugar. It is ideal for extra fine textured cakes and meringues, as well as for sweetening fruits and iced-drinks since it dissolves easily. In England, a sugar very similar to superfine sugar is known as caster or castor, named after the type of shaker in which it is often packaged.

Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

This sugar is granulated sugar ground to a smooth powder and then sifted. It contains about 3% corn starch to prevent caking. Confectioner’s sugar is available in three grades ground to different degrees of fineness. The confectioner’s sugar available in supermarkets is the finest of the three and is used in icings, confections and whipping cream. The other two types of powdered sugar are used by industrial bakers

Coarse Sugar

The crystal size of coarse sugar is larger than that of “regular” sugar. Coarse sugar is normally processed from the purest sugar liquor. This processing method makes coarse sugar highly resistant to color change or Inversion (natural breakdown to fructose and glucose) at high temperatures. These characteristics are important in making fondants, confections and liquors.

Sanding Sugar

Another large crystal sugar, sanding sugar, is used mainly in the baking and confectionery industries to sprinkle on top of baked goods. The large crystals reflect light and give the product a sparkling appearance.

Brown Sugar (Light and Dark)

Brown sugar consists of sugar crystals coated in molasses syrup with natural flavor and color. Many sugar refiners produce brown sugar by boiling a special molasses syrup until brown sugar crystals form. A centrifuge spins the crystals dry. Some of the syrup remains giving the sugar its brown color and molasses flavor. Other manufacturers produce brown sugar by blending special molasses syrup with white sugar crystals. Dark brown sugar has more color and a stronger molasses flavor than light brown sugar. Lighter types are generally used in baking and making butterscotch, condiments and glazes. Dark brown sugar has a rich flavor that is good for gingerbread, mincemeat, baked beans, plum pudding and other full flavored foods.

Brown Sugars - Turbinado Sugar

This sugar is a raw sugar which has been partially processed, removing some of the surface molasses. It is a blond color with a mild brown sugar flavor and is often used in tea.

Liquid Sugars

Liquid sugars were developed before today’s methods of sugar processing made transport and handling granulated sugars practical. There are several types of liquid sugar. Liquid sucrose (sugar) is essentially liquid granulated sugar and can be used in products wherever dissolved granulated sugar might be used. Amber liquid sucrose (sugar) is darker in color and can be used where the cane sugar flavor is desirable and the non-sugars are not a problem in the product.