Why is Blackstrap Molasses so high in minerals?
March 14, 2006 7:41 PM   Subscribe

Why is Blackstrap Molasses so high in minerals? Extended research (both internet and olde-fashioned) have failed to answer this question - I even emailed a molasses producer but didn't get a reply. One theory is that it has something to do with the equipment it's processed on, another that it has to do with how concentrated it is, but so far no hard facts.
posted by dorcas to Food & Drink (9 answers total)
 
Those molasses producers tend to be slow to respond, especially in January.
I think the mineral content has to do with distillation. The sugar is removed in several stages, leaving the concentrated good stuff in the molasses.

From Wikipedia:

Second molasses is created from a second boiling and sugar extraction, and has a slight bitter tinge to its taste. Further rounds of processing and boiling yield the dark blackstrap molasses, which is the most nutritionally valuable, and thus often sold as a health supplement, as well as being used in the manufacture of cattle feed, and for other industrial uses.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 7:59 PM on March 14, 2006


Never, ever try to sweeten whipped cream with molasses. . .*giving a rueful, 'been there" shake of the head*

/derail
posted by Danf at 8:51 PM on March 14, 2006


I understood it picked up iron from the containers it was distilled in?
posted by A189Nut at 11:39 PM on March 14, 2006


Response by poster: thanks wgp, but I'm hoping to find out what exactly makes this stuff so nutritionally valuable.

Most places you look for this info you find postings from either health food nuts or folks interested in livestock feed...

also A189Nut, a teaspoon of the stuff has as much calcium as a cup of milk...
posted by dorcas at 5:41 AM on March 15, 2006


dorcas, what exactly are you looking for that's not included in WGP's answer? You start with cane juice, and perform a sugar extraction that concentrates all of the not-sugar, including calcium and other minerals. Are you looking for physiological reasons that sugar cane juice contains significant amounts of calcium?
posted by rxrfrx at 6:39 AM on March 15, 2006


So yesterday my son looks at the lawn and says, "Do you know why there are so many leaves and pine needles in this spot, Dad?
"No, why?"
"It's where we built the snowman. It picked up the needles and leaves from around the lawn, and when the snow melted, that's what's left."
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:03 AM on March 15, 2006


Blackstrap is nasty. Try eating road tar. It is not for the feint of heart. The Brits call it treacle. I think that's a good description.
posted by spakto at 10:29 AM on March 15, 2006


Now I know what that line in the Hedwig and the Angry Inch "Sugar Daddy" song was talking about.

Black strap molasses, you're my orange blossom honey bear.
posted by lychee at 1:00 PM on March 15, 2006


I always thought that "light treacle" was first-extract sugar (i.e. sucrose syrup) and "dark treacle" was regular golden (sweet) molasses. And blackstrap is blackstrap.
posted by rxrfrx at 1:09 PM on March 15, 2006


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