Muscovado sugar is a sweetener made from the juice of sugarcane stalks with the addition of evaporated cane juice. The resulting steam is then crystallized without wasting molasses during the production process. This sweetener also has another name Dark Muscovado. Many claim muscovado is a healthier alternative to table sugar. In Indonesia, this sugar may not be as well known as granulated sugar or brown sugar such as coconut sugar and palm sugar. Muscovado sugar producers are very difficult to find or maybe there are no muscovado sugar producers in Indonesia.

Dark Muscovado-Producing Countires

In general, muscovado-producing countries can be found in India, Barbados, and Colombia as the largest producers of dark muscovado. Dark Muscovado is also known as Barbados sugar, Khadsari, or Khand. This artisanal sugar is a favorite sweetener for residents in the Caribbean islands because this sugar is produced on the island of Barbados. The island of Barbados itself is located between the Caribbean peninsula and the Atlantic Ocean. So that the sugar distribution process reaches up to the Caribbean Islands. Residents of Barbados produce this sugar using traditional or low-tech methods. At present, muscovado has become one of the export commodities of several dark muscovado-producing countries.

Although not as phenomenal as granulated sugar and brown sugar, muscovado has the potential to be a natural sweetener alternative to granulated sugar and brown sugar. The same calories as granulated sugar and a brown color like brown sugar will be enough to attract buyers. Muscovado is also believed to have important mineral content that granulated sugar does not have. So that muscovado can compete with coconut sugar and palm sugar which have better mineral content.

Even so, the use of muscovado must still be limited so that blood sugar levels are maintained. In addition, limiting sugar consumption can also reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Limiting daily sugar consumption to no more than 100 calories or the equivalent of 6 teaspoons (25g) per day will reduce the risk of rising blood sugar.