Different types of sugar (white & brown sugar cubes, syrup and granulated sugar)

What is sugar

Sugar

Sugar (sometimes called table sugar) is produced by extracting and purifying the sugars naturally present in sugar cane and sugar beet plants. Sugar can also be called sucrose; the scientific name for sugar. Sugar is a disaccharide, made up of two simple sugar units (monosaccharides), glucose and fructose. 

Sugar isn't only found in sugar cane and sugar beet plants. Sugar is produced naturally in all plants, including fruits, vegetables and nuts.

Sugar cane and sugar beet plants are chosen for sugar production because of their naturally high sugar content. Their naturally high sugar content is due to the production of sugar in the plant, by the process of photosynthesis. Sugar cane and sugar beet grow in different areas around the world. 

Farm to table      Types of sugar from cane and beet 

A kilner jar containing brown sugar

Different types of sugars and health

Find out whether there are health differences between the different types of sugar. Explore whether there are health differences between sugar itself, and other types of sugars-containing ingredients.

Other sources of sugars

In addition to sucrose, other sources of sugars in the diet include glucose and fructose in fruits and vegetables, maltose in starchy grains, and lactose in dairy products. Other sugars ingredients, such as honey, maple syrup, agave, high-fructose corn syrup (also called high-fructose maize syrup, isoglucose or glucose-fructose syrup), and concentrated fruit juice, also contain glucose and fructose. 

Fruit market

Did you know?

It is a common myth that fruits only contain fructose, and that sucrose is mainly added to foods during food preparation, or during the commercial production of foods. Almost all fruits and vegetables naturally contain sucrose, as well as fructose and glucose, in varying amounts.