Sugar, you live and learn!

[Hilary B]

So, how about home extraction? Or is it that, you can grow it..................... but it's impossible to get the sugar out without building a stinking factory!

I am sure you could extract something similar to unrefined sugar by similar methods to extracting apple-juice for cider, and then evaporating, but it would probably be a very dark, sticky sugar.
Seymour gives a description of a DIY process in one of his books. No idea whether it works!
BTW, I believe Napoleon was keen on sugar beet as a source of sugar. There was a famous cartoon about it (can't remember what book it was reproduced in when I saw it)

[digthatchick]

BTW, I believe Napoleon was keen on sugar beet as a source of sugar. There was a famous cartoon about it (can't remember what book it was reproduced in when I saw it)

I think it may have been - Sugar Beet by Philip Draycott Sugar beet - Google Books

[Bramble_killer]

All this sugar talk got me checking my bag to see what it said.
I was amazed to read this



Silver Spoon Half Spoon Sugar
Granulated Sugar with added sweeteners.

Low fat sugar has sweeteners as they have less calories than real sugars.

There's no reason to buy low fat anything (for me) as there's lots of additives and sweeteners in them.

[NOG]

BTW, I believe Napoleon was keen on sugar beet as a source of sugar. There was a famous cartoon about it (can't remember what book it was reproduced in when I saw it)

He was keen on it because the Royal Navy were blockaiding his sugar cane imports from the Americas. So he had to use Beet.

[Alice]

Thank you Bramble Killer. I had sussed that.
I got the sugar by mistake and only discovered the bit about added sweeteners when I looked to check if it was beet or cane.
It's going back to Tesco tomorrow.

[Hilary B]

I think it may have been - Sugar Beet by Philip Draycott Sugar beet - Google Books

That may have been the cartoon (doesn't look quite how I remember, but that is probably me) but certainly not that book!

[kirsty b]

Are you not far from Bury either?Maybe we could have a Grape meet outside the sugar factory!
Kirsty B is also close to Bury...that makes at least three of us!

I didn't see this post when I replied earlier!! I live about 25 mins from Bury, and work there at the hospital.
I'm about equal distance between Bury and Cambridge

[SlugLobber]

Well I never! I didn't realise beet was grown over here, either! Does that mean horsey sugar beet is home produced, too?? That would make it VERY economcally viable!

[Alison]

It took me about 3 posts to realise that you meant Bury St Edmunds when you said Bury - I was scratching my head to think of a beet factory in Lancs.

[Snadger]

Ok..........decided to give it a try...........anyone know of sugarbeet seed suppliers to the amateur?

[NOG]

No...as there is only one use for Beet all the growers are on Contracts to British Sugar...You could go to cambridge or the fens and see if a farmer will give you some.

Making sugar though will be a giggle...you would be better of refining Petrol out of Crude.

Its not an easy operation.

If you do it let me know.

[Hilary B]

Ok..........decided to give it a try...........anyone know of sugarbeet seed suppliers to the amateur?

There used to be a company called "self-sufficiency and smallholding supplies". I haven't had any reason to look for them for about 20 years, but if they still exist, they would either sell it, or know who does (if anyone).

Google found this

English Sugar Beet Seed Co
Seed Suppliers
Burton Lodge
Burton Pedwardine
Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 0DF
01529 469222

[Snadger]

No...as there is only one use for Beet all the growers are on Contracts to British Sugar...You could go to cambridge or the fens and see if a farmer will give you some.

Making sugar though will be a giggle...you would be better of refining Petrol out of Crude.

Its not an easy operation.

If you do it let me know.

Apart from 'sugary', I wonder what a sugar beet tastes like?

[NOG]

Bet I don't taste of sugar.

They shred the beet and then boil it. Give the boiled sreddings to cattle.

The fact that you dont see then on ready stedy cook means they taste like straw.

[Snadger]

Bet I don't taste of sugar.

They shred the beet and then boil it. Give the boiled sreddings to cattle.

The fact that you dont see then on ready stedy cook means they taste like straw.

Chooks might like em then!