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How Caramel is Made – Caramel as Syrups and Powders [Part 1 of 2]

13/12/2018 By Ben Eastick in Applications Formulations

Caramel is an ingredient that it used in virtually every part of the food and drink industry; its purpose is to enhance taste and add colour to products. From bakery products to beers, to soups, sauces and even pet food, caramel in both syrup or powder form are used to create colour and flavour in order to make food and beverages look as good as they taste. Caramel syrups are also used in the pharmaceutical production of cough syrups and elixirs, while caramel in its powder form can also be used to add a deeper, richer colour in dry mixes for breads, cakes, toppings and dry pet food.

In this article we will discuss the caramelisation of sugar to produce a very deep, rich, dark brown coloured syrup, also known as burnt sugar. This type of caramel syrup is supplied by Ragus and is used to add flavour and colour to many dishes and beverages.

Ragus’ caramel syrup products are only made with either sugar that is burnt: a natural caramel known as E150a. Or with sugar and glucose syrup burnt with ammonia; not natural E150c. (An E number means that a food additive has passed safety tests and is approved for use here and in the rest of the EU.)

Burnt sugars are dark brown liquids or solids obtained by the controlled heat treatment of food sugars without any other chemical substances added. Burnt sugar gives a unique taste to food and beverages, but it is not a simple product to make; it takes practice and expertise to create.
Ragus’ Pure Syrups range fromfamiliar ingredients like Golden Syrup, to highly specialised products for industrial use, all manufactured at its advanced manufacturing site in the UK

Similar to making caramel, burnt sugar is the caramelization of sugar to produce a very deep, rich, brown-coloured syrup; despite being called ‘burnt’, you have to be careful not to overcook it as it would result in turning the mixture into a bitter, black product which cannot be used. The technique for cooking it, is to add sugar to water which is then heated to a temperature of 150 – 180 °C and stirred continuously until it turns a very dark brown.

What caramel syrup products does Ragus supply? Ragus’ Caramelised Syrup E150a is dark brown/red in appearance and has a very rich taste but is made by the controlled burning of liquid sugar and glucose without any chemicals to create an aromatic flavour and dark amber colour.

Used to colour beverages such as brandies, bread, cakes, confectionery, preserved vegetables, fish and shellfish spreads, condiments, soft drinks, vinegar, alcoholic drinks, cheeses, breakfast cereals and processed meats. E150a is a permitted food colour worldwide.
Ragus’ Pure Syrups range from familiar ingredients like Golden Syrup, to highly specialised products for industrial use, all manufactured at its advanced manufacturing site in the UK

Ragus’ Caramel E150c has a black appearance with a very strong taste and is made by the controlled burning of liquid sugar with ammonia to create a very bitter flavour and dark colour.

It is used to colour beers, malt vinegar and sauces, soy sauce, confectionery, cheese, carbonated drinks, cereals, preserved vegetables, jams, jellies, marmalades and processed meats. E150c is a permitted food colour worldwide.

What Products can Ragus’ Caramel Syrups be Applied to? • For brewing beer, craft beer or industrial beers our caramel syrups give different types of beer their colouring and they can reduce the bitterness and promote fermentation.
• They are used to give the caramel taste in ice cream and also to give the brown colouring found in caramel, coffee, rum & raisin flavours.
• Caramel syrups are used in alcohol as it enhances the brown tints of spirits and burnt sugars can also add flavour and distinction.
• In energy drinks our products add colour which creates the standard golden shades. Likewise, in carbonated soft drinks liquid caramel is used to provide colour while maintaining the brightness and clarity when fruit extracts or tannins are also present which have high acidic concentrations.
• Caramels are widely used in the baking industries in order to provide darker richer colours in products such a brown bread, puddings and cakes.

To see our extensive range of pure sugars and syrups and to order your ingredients, check out our new online tool, our Product Finder, where you can filter through 50 different products: https://www.ragus.co.uk/product-finder/

Ragus Fun Facts: Our pure syrups range from familiar ingredients like golden syrup, to highly specialised products for industrial use.

Ben Eastick

A board member and co-leader of the business, Ben is responsible for our marketing strategy and its execution by the agency team he leads and is the guardian of our corporate brand vision. He also manages key customers and distributors.

In 2005, he took on the role of globally sourcing our ‘speciality sugars’. With his background in laboratory product testing and following three decades of supplier visits, his expertise means we get high quality, consistent and reliable raw materials from ethical sources.

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