Refined sugar vs. natural sugar: what’s the difference?  

In the world of bulk industrial sugar ingredient manufacturing, understanding the distinction between natural and refined crystalline sugars is important to select the right product for your food, beverage or pharmaceutical application.  

While it should be clearly understood that both types of sugar originate from natural plant based clean label sources, the level of processing and the specific functions they offer can vary significantly. This article explores what refined and natural crystalline sugars are, their unique characteristics, and how they support diverse applications. 

Refined crystalline sugar ingredients are derived from natural sources like sugarcane and sugar beet. For example, sucrose, or white crystalline table sugar, is a refined sugar and everyday ingredient found in many domestic kitchens and used by industrial food and beverage, and pharmaceutical brands, for their products.  

The raw materials, sugarcane and sugar beet, undergo processing to extract and concentrate the sucrose in the plants, and remove impurities, resulting in a more consistent and versatile product. A wide range of refined and manufactured sugar ingredients are commonly used in both industrial and domestic settings due to their functional properties, such as adding flavour, colour, texture and mouthfeel, bulk, and general effectiveness in enhancing products.

 
When refined sugar is made from sugarcane, it goes through a series of steps. First, the sugarcane is crushed to extract its juice. This juice is then boiled, evaporated, and spun in a centrifuge to create raw sugar crystals. These crystals are further refined by melting, filtering, and spinning to produce white refined cane sugar. Learn more about the process of turning sugarcane into sugar crystals.

A similar process is used for sugar beet. The beet is sliced, diffused and centrifuged to separate the crystals from the beet molasses (the remaining plant fibres and liquid after most of the sucrose has been extracted) before it is filtered and dried. Learn more about the process of producing sugar products from beet. 

Some examples of refined sugar products include: 

White granulated sugar or table sugar: the most common refined sugar, it can be refined from both sugarcane and sugar beet, is ideal for a wide range of applications due to its neutral flavour and versatility. This basic sucrose product is the base for many other manufactured sugar ingredients, such as soft brown sugars, invert sugar syrups and liquid sugars.  
 
Soft brown light sugar: typically made from a blend of white granulated sugar, it retains some natural molasses, providing a richer flavour and a softer texture. 
 
Raw cane sugar: derived exclusively from sugarcane, this less refined sugar undergoes minimal processing, adding natural colour and flavour to products. 
 
Demerara sugar: a minimally refined sugar made from sugarcane, with large golden crystals and a natural molasses flavour, ideal for baking and beverages.  
 
Muscovado sugar: produced from sugarcane, this dark, moist sugar is rich in natural molasses, providing a deep, caramel-like flavour and vibrant colour in recipes. 

Refined crystalline sugars such as the ones listed above are key ingredients in many products, from soft drinks and confectionery to sauces and baked goods. They provide functional benefits like enhancing texture, moisture retention, and extending shelf life. This makes them indispensable in food production. Learn more about the differences between different crystalline sugars.  

Natural sugars occur naturally in fruits, vegetables, and dairy products without the need for significant processing. They include simple sugars like fructose, glucose and lactose, which are naturally present in ingredients such as honey, milk and raw sugarcane. 

Some examples of natural sugars include: 

Sugarcane and beet: the raw sources of both natural and refined sugar 

Jaggery: unrefined sugar made from sugarcane juice, rich in minerals like iron, calcium and magnesium 
 
Fructose: found in fruits and honey, known for its intense sweetness 
 
Lactose: present in dairy products like milk and cheese. Natural sugars retain some of the nutrients and minerals from their source material. For example, molasses, a by-product of the sugar refining process, is rich in potassium, iron and calcium. Ragus incorporates molasses into many of its products, so these products combine sweetness with nutritional value. 

While both refined and natural sugars provide sweetness, they serve different purposes in food and beverage production. Manufacturers rely on refined sugar ingredients for their functional properties and consistency, while natural sugars can provide additional benefits such as flavour complexity.  

Refined sugars can range from more processed to minimally processed, offering varying levels of natural molasses and nutritional content. Highly refined sugars, like white granulated sugar, undergo processing to extract and concentrate the natural sucrose from the sugarcane or sugar beet plant and remove impurities, leaving behind a pure sweetener with a neutral flavour and versatility. White crystalline table sugars are valued by manufacturers for their functional benefits, such as sweetness and texture. Crystalline white sugar is also the base for many other functional sugar ingredients, such as soft brown sugars, invert sugar syrups and liquid sugars.  

Minimally refined sugars like demerara sugar and muscovado sugar retain more of their natural molasses and therefore provide additional functional properties, such as a nuanced flavour, enhanced texture and colour. This makes them ideal for manufacturers seeking those additional functional properties for their food and beverage and pharmaceutical product formulations.  

As awareness grows around the desire for clean label products and less processed ingredients, food and beverage producers are returning to plant based clean label sugar ingredients and removing artificial additives while still achieving the required, or improved, functional benefits. By choosing the right type of refined sugar, manufacturers can align with both consumer trends and their product performance needs. 
 

With consumer demand for clean label, plant-based ingredients on the rise, food and beverage manufacturers must balance functional requirements with labelling considerations. Ragus formulates industrial pure sugar functional ingredients that meet our customers’ needs and, in turn, help our customers to innovate and meet consumer needs without compromising on the functionality of the ingredients, and the appeal of the final product.  

To learn more, contact our Customer Services Team. For more sugar news and updates, continue browsing SUGARTALK and follow Ragus on LinkedIn.