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What is Molasses?

Molasses is a delicious by-product which is extracted during the sugar cane refining
process used to make sugar crystals. The sugar cane is crushed to remove the juice which
is then boiled vigorously. Machines utilize centrifugal force to extract the sugar crystals
from the syrup. The remaining syrup becomes molasses.

The flavor and color of molasses varies depending on how early or late in the process the
molasses is extracted. In Britain and Europe, molasses is often referred to as black
treacle.

Treacle: True treacle dates from Victorian times. A pale, refined molasses, it is notably
sweeter and has a much more mellow flavor than molasses. Nowadays, treacle is a blend
of molasses and refinery syrup. It ranges in color from light gold to nearly black. British
treacle can be substituted for molasses in most recipes, but much less frequently will
molasses work as a replacement for treacle. If you do substitute molasses for treacle, use
the lightest, unsulphured molasses you can find.

Molasses History

The English term molasses comes from the Portuguese melaço which in turn is derived
from the Latin mel, meaning honey. Melasus (sic) was first seen in print in 1582 in a
Portuguese book heralding the conquest of the West Indies.

Molasses was exported to the U.S. from the West Indies to make rum. High taxes were
levied on molasses by the British via the Molasses Act of 1733, but the duties were so
widely ignored by U.S. colonists that the taxes were reduced in 1764 in hopes more
would comply.

Up until the 1880's, molasses was the most popular sweetener in the United States,
because it was much cheaper than refined sugar. It was considered particularly tasty with
salt pork.

After the end of World War I, refined sugar prices dropped drastically resulting in the
migration of consumers from molasses to white sugar crystals. By 1919, U.S. per capita
consumption of white sugar was twice what it was in 1880, with most Americans
completely switching from molasses to granulated white and brown sugar.

In January of 1919, a huge vat of molasses at the Purity Distilling Company in Boston
exploded. What came to be known as the "Great Molasses Flood" killed 21 people and
spilled two million gallons of molasses into the streets.

Interestingly enough, molasses now costs about twice as much as refined sugar. Along
with industrial alcohol and rum products, molasses can also be used to make yeast, cure
tobacco, and in cattle feed.
RECIPE

GINGER SNAP COOKIES

2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. shortening
2 eggs
1/2 c. light molasses
4 c. flour
2 tsp. soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cloves
¼ tsp white pepper

Mix together. Drop large teaspoons of dough in rows on a non-stick cookie sheet.
Sprinkle tops with sugar. Bake at 350 degrees approximately 10 minutes.

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