Rapadura Sugar

Rapadura is the juice extracted from the sugar cane which is then dehydrated at low heat. Rapadura comes from the Portuguese name referring to a form of raw unrefined sugar cane juice that was formed into a brick. It has also been spelt Raspadura with ‘raspa’ meaning to scrape and ‘duro’ meaning hard referring to the scraping the sugar from the hard brick to use in cooking.

Rapadura is evaporated a low heat therefore not destroying vitamins and minerals including the polyphenols. Rapadura has also not been separated from the molasses which gives it the deep brown colour and also means the retention of minerals.

Rapadura sugar can be purchased at some supermarkets, most health food stores and in bulk through most co-ops.