Molasses is a viscous liquid sugar that is a byproduct of refining sugarcane or sugar beets into sugar. It varies in the amount of sugar, method of extraction, and age of the plant. Molasses is not as sweet as table sugar and is typically more viscous than other liquid sweeteners like agave syrup, honey, and high fructose corn syrup. It is a major constituent of fine commercial brown sugar and is used to sweeten and flavor foods. Molasses is also one of the primary ingredients used to distill rum. Sweet sorghum syrup is colloquially called sorghum molasses in the southern United States.
Molasses contains more vitamins and minerals than other sweeteners but is still high in sugar. It is composed of 22% water, 75% carbohydrates, and very small amounts (0.1%) of fat. One tablespoon of molasses contains about 58 calories, all of which come from carbs, which is mostly sugar. Molasses is a good alternative to refined sugar, but people should consume it in moderation as excess sugar intake can be harmful to a persons health.
In summary, molasses is a liquid sugar that is used to sweeten and flavor foods and is a byproduct of refining sugarcane or sugar beets into sugar. It is not as sweet as table sugar and is typically more viscous than other liquid sweeteners. Molasses contains more vitamins and minerals than other sweeteners but is still high in sugar, so it should be consumed in moderation.
