The production of molasses developed in India around 500 BC. The Arab invaders brought the product to Spain, and a century later it arrived in the West Indies with Christopher Columbus. It is unclear when black molasses was first used for human consumption. Organic and unsulfured molasses is one of the most affordable and readily available superfoods, rich in vitamins and minerals. It is an important healing and preventive food and is an excellent substitute for sugar. Black molasses is the waste product in sugar production and is more nutritious than organic unsulfured molasses.
It is quite funny that the refined sugar product is harmful to health while the waste product is one of the healthiest and most healing superfoods. During the refining process, all naturally occurring vitamins and minerals in raw sugar are removed.
The production process of organic unsulfured molasses starts with the harvesting of organic sugarcane matured in the sun, making sulfur additives unnecessary. Then machines extract the liquid from the cane, which is boiled and placed in a centrifuge to extract sugar crystals. The liquid resulting from this part of the process is molasses. The boiling process is repeated a third time, leaving the thick dark black residue that we know as black molasses.
Benefits and nutritional values of black molasses
This rich dark syrup is full of vitamins and minerals and has a low glycemic index, which means the body metabolizes glucose and carbohydrates slowly, requiring less insulin production in the body and thus stabilizing blood sugar, reducing the risk of diabetes. It also contains a high level of iron, is a natural source of folic acid and other B vitamins which are instrumental in the production of red blood cells and thus reduces or eliminates the effects of anemia.
The organic unsulfured molasses also contains significant amounts of calcium e magnesium, which help bone health, are important for the functioning of the nervous system, and more than 300 metabolic processes. An abundant amount of potassium is also found in organic unsulfured molasses which can prevent heart disease, promote healthy muscle tissue, and relieve or eliminate the threat of arthritis. There is a significant number of trace minerals in black molasses which are essential for a healthy body such as manganese, zinc, and copper.
Organic molasses can be used as a sweetener in baked goods, added to cereals, or made into a hot beverage.
