Sugar

The sugar cane, from which most modern sugar producing varieties are derived, is thought to have originated in New Guinea. It has been domesticated and cultivated there for its sweet taste, for an estimated 9000 years. There were 3 main introductions worldwide from New Guinea through migration; the first to the Philippines and India, came 2000 years after its initial usage in New Guinea.Later, sugar cane was introduced further east to China.

Evidence of sugar making comes much later, around the beginning of the Christian era. Between the first century A.D. and the arrived of the first European explorers, the sugar industries of India and China developed considerably. Sugar progressed from being a medicine to become a desired food condiment.

The introduction of sugar cane into Persia from India is dated at the sixth century A.D. The first mention of sugar as a product dates from A.D. 627 near Baghdad. It is probable that the Arabs acquired sugar cane and sugar making skills from Persia.

The Arab expansion into the Mediterranean was an immensely important development in the history of sugar.

In the 15th century the emerging power inherited a thriving sugar industry, plus technology and skills from the Arabs.

The 19th century was not only the century of explosive growth in beet sugar production, but also the century of important technical innovation in the way sugar was extracted and produced. The first half of the century saw a stream of innovations in techniques for crushing cane and diffusing beet.

Sugar is special product, with strong social, political, geographical and emotional attributes.

Its demographic effect on the world must not be underestimated.