Molasses:
The Central government has decided to allow export of 1.5 million tonnes (MT) of sugar for the 2025-26 and also remove 50 per cent export duty on molasses.
- It is a byproduct which comes from crushed sugar cane or sugar beets.
- It is a dense, viscous liquid of dark brown tint, rich in sugars, and containing a small percentage of water.
- It contains more vitamins and minerals than other sweeteners but is still high in sugar.
- The different types of molasses vary in color, consistency, flavor, and sugar content.
- Light molasses is the syrup that results from the first boiling of the sugar syrup. It has the lightest color and the sweetest taste. People commonly use it in baking.
- Dark molasses results from the second boiling. It is thicker, darker, and less sweet.
- Blackstrap molasses is the syrup that results from the third boiling. It is the thickest and darkest type of molasses and tends to have a bitter taste.
- It is traditionally used in animal feed and for the production of ethanol, yeast, and lactic acid.
- Molasses is also used in the production of ethyl alcohol and as an additive in livestock feed.
