Muscovado Sugar Vs Coconut Sugar: What’s the Difference?

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Muscovado is a partially refined to unrefined sugar with a strong molasses content and flavor. It is usually dark brown and is considered either a lump of centrifugal cane sugar or centrifuge.

People sometimes identify coconut sugar as coconut palm sugar because you can get it from the coconut sap, not the coconut itself. Manufacturers often mix the juice in water, boil into a cube of sugar and then leave it to get dried and crystallized. So, what is the difference between muscovado sugar vs coconut sugar?

Coconut sugar and muscovado sugar differ in color; coconut sugar is light brown, while muscovado sugar is dark brown. Also, muscovado is deemed healthier than coconut sugar because it contains higher levels of various beneficial minerals.

The two sugars also come from different sources; we will discuss more about this later in the article.

For now, let’s quickly learn more about coconut sugar and muscovado sugar!

What is Muscovado Sugar?

Muscovado sugar, also known as Barbados sugar or Khand sari, is unrefined sugar-containing natural molasses. Muscovado sugars usually have a rich brown color, moist texture, and taste like toffee.

You can use muscovado sugar to give a deeper flavor to confectioneries like cakes, cookies, and candies, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add them to savory dishes also.

Muscovado sugar is an artisanal sugar because it is more labor-intensive than commercial white or brown sugars. The molasses that muscovado sugar contains provides it with some anti-oxidizing properties, which help to prevent damaging the cells.

What Is Coconut Sugar?

Coconut sugar, also known as cocoa palm sugar, is produced from the sap of the flower bud system in the coconut palm.

Coconut sugar is said not to have a lot of nutritional benefits apart from the fact that you can use it as a sweetener in many countries. Coconut sugar looks just like unprocessed raw sugar and has its texture.

Just because coconut sugar is like palm sugar, many people sometimes mistake it for palm sugar. Still moreover, most sugar sold as palm sugars are blended with white cane sugar and other ingredients, so coconut sugar is not similar to palm sugar.

Is Muscovado Sugar and Coconut Sugar the Same?

Muscovado sugars and coconut sugars are not the same. The significant difference is in its level of sweetness. Muscovado sugar is healthier than coconut sugar, even if it is less refined than coconut sugar and contains more molasses.

If you’re sensitive to the intake of just any type of sugar, it is safe to consult your nutritionist and get more information on how these sugars affect your glucose levels.

Differences Between Muscovado Sugar Vs Coconut Sugar

The differences between muscovado sugar vs coconut sugar are not much, but it is pretty easy to identify them.

The coconut sugar is light brown, so it is said to have a similar texture to brown sugar. At the same time, the muscovado sugars have a darker brown color and contain a particular amount of anti-oxidants.

Regarding the health benefits, muscovado sugar is healthier than coconut sugar, but that doesn’t mean it is a very healthy sugar. If you want to consider a more beneficial sweetener, you could try honey as it is equally sweet and very healthy when not consumed in excess.

You did not make muscovado sugar and coconut sugar from the same source. Coconut sugar is made abundantly in east Asia from the sap of the coconut palm tree.

It is the same as palm sugar, which can also be made from palm sap, while muscovado sugar is made only from sugar cane.The extracts from the club are heated, and then the liquid part is left to evaporate, leaving the sugar behind.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Can I Use Instead of Light Muscovado Sugar?

The best substitutes for muscovado sugar are panela, jaggery, and sucanat. If those are not available, the following substitute you should consider should be the dark or light brown sugars depending on the type of muscovado you will be substituting. When replacing any of these sugars for muscovado, you should do it in equal amounts.

How Can I Store My Muscovado Sugar?

You should store muscovado sugar in an air-tight container to prevent moisture from drying up. When stored improperly, the sugar eventually dries up and clumps together, likewise to any form of brown sugars too.

Is Light Brown Sugar the Same as Light Muscovado Sugar?

These sugars are very similar, can be used interchangeably, and in most cases, they are seen as the same thing. Since they are both light varieties, one can be substituted for the other anytime, any day.

Can I Use Coconut Sugar Instead of Brown Sugar?

Yes, you can use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar, but you should do it in a ratio of 1:1. Even though coconut sugar tastes and looks like brown sugar, its moisture-retaining capacity is not as good as brown sugar.

One disadvantage of using coconut sugar for baked foods is that its low moisture retaining capacity can make baked bread or other baked food appear dryer or denser than intended.

Can You Make Your Coconut Sugar?

Absolutely yes! All you have to do is draft out a cut on the flower of the coconut palm and then collect the sap into jars. After this must’ve been done, you place the liquid under heat until most of the water evaporates.

What Is Coconut Sugar Used For?

Coconut sugar is good in most recipes that require the addition of sugar. It is good in cakes, suitable for sprinkling on granola, and can be used in sauces and mixed into your parfait.

Is muscovado sugar the same as demerara?

The significant difference between muscovado sugar and granulated sugar is the moisture content. Muscovado sugar can be seen to be moister and hold together in clumps rather than move freely. Muscovado sugar also has a fuggy and caramel-like taste.

Conclusion

Getting the suitable sugar to fit into your needs is not so hard to do; all you need to do if it’s health-related is consult your doctor and talk to a food expert who can help you out.

Muscovado sugar and coconut sugars are good in their way. Still, it is preferable to use muscovado sugar for your daily sugar intake as it is said to have a healthier nutritional profile than the other.

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