Rapunzel Rapadura vs. Florida Crystals ECJ

[blessedwithboys]

i have been using FL for yrs. just recently i read NT and she specifically warns against FC ECJ. i've looked at both websites and i just dont get the difference.

also, what about FC Demarara? and is Sucanat any good?

TIA

[PeggyinNC]

Sucanat is usually considered to be as TF friendly as Rapadura. I like the taste of Rapadura better, myself. I love Florida Crystals for making Kombucha, because the little bit of molasses in it makes such lovely notes in the final brew. And even Sally Fallon says just use any old white sugar for kombucha, so I figure I'm okay using FC there. I sometimes use demarara as well, but not often. I have several rungs of sugars around here, so if I or family start slipping, at least we don't often make it down all the way to white sugar! LOL BTW, in case I was unclear, FC is not a good substitute for Rapadura, but Sucanat is...

[AJP]

Almost all the molasses is removed from "evaporated cane juice", but none of it is removed from Rapadura or Sucanat. The latter two still have all the native nutrients of sugar cane juice, only the water is removed. Florida Crystals and other ECJ/organic sugar brands are only a refining step or two shy of fully refined white sugar.

[PaulaJoAnne]

Florida Crystals is just pesticide free refined white sugar, with just a wee bit of the mollasses left in it to fool the eye.

[blessedwithboys]

Ah, so...FC basically started out as Rapadura (which as I now understand is not so much a brand name as it is just a plain old food) but was then over-processed to become what it is.

The closest retailer to me is 10 miles away, so i better get looking for a cheap online source...can anyone tell me what an average price per pound is?

[PaulaJoAnne]

Originally Posted by blessedwithboys

Ah, so...FC basically started out as Rapadura (which as I now understand is not so much a brand name as it is just a plain old food) but was then over-processed to become what it is.

The closest retailer to me is 10 miles away, so i better get looking for a cheap online source...can anyone tell me what an average price per pound is?

Check with Azure Standard, and see if they deliver in your area.
Their Sucanat is $2 per pond, whereas it tends to be almost $6 per pound in the grocery stores.
If that does not work, hunt around for other co-ops like Azure.