History of Sugar Free Essay Example, 2250 words

This distinction in consumption between various parts of the world can be attributed to both the wealth differences as well as the easy accessibility of sugar. The recent increased health awareness in the industrialized Western world and raised concerns regarding the impacts of sugar on well being as well as the availability of sugar alternatives like low-calorie, high intensity sweeteners and corn syrup high in fructose have not only stabilized sugar consumption but in many regions these factors have resulted in a decline in its demand. Therefore, the expansion of sugar industry thus can be linked to the consumption in poorer nations in accordance with the richer nations’ pattern. Besides, sugar needs to beat the modern low calorie artificial sweeteners to keep its industry running. 1 Sugar Source The sugar being utilized today is derived from two distinct plants i. e., sugar beets and sugar cane. There exists no clear difference amongst the sugar extracted from either of these sources although the cultivation and sugar extraction procedures are different from each. Sugar cane is a fragile plant that springs up only in tropical regions, whilst sugar beets are sturdier crop that develop in the temperate regions of North America and Europe. Chemically sugar is categorized as a carbohydrate with name â€Å"sucrose† that occurs in plants naturally. We will write a custom essay sample on History of Sugar or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now As its concentration is most rich in sugar beet and sugarcane, these sources are utilized in its commercial preparation. Completely refined sugar regardless of its source is pure sucrose and therefore has its distinct sweet taste but in spite of the same end product yielded from two distinct sources, the sugar beet and sugarcane industries differ significantly in the procedures adopted for organization and production and each industry has its own typical geography and history. History of Sugar Many centuries ago, the New Guinea people used to harvest wild sugar cane and then suck and chew it for gaining energy. Ancient merchants from Southeast Pacific islands traveled via sea from one island to another and to the dry land of eastern Africa and Asia to merchandize metal tools, animals and food and this trade helped in the spreading of sugar cane. The history of sugar is very interesting as it entails various economic and social aspects as it spread from one region to another. In the European colonies and particularly England, power structures turned it as a luxury commodity which was eventually changed into a necessity and motivated a revolution in lifestyle and diet, especially amongst the working class throughout the Industrial Revolution and the enforcement of capitalism.