same thing i believe

Hi MadArtist

(Sorry for the prior post, it didn't come up the way I wanted)

I made the same mistake the first time. Unsulfured Blackstrap Molasses is preferable to fancy or regular molasses.It has less sugar and is more concentrated in minerals. If it does not say "BlackStrap" there is a good chance that it is not it.

Here is something from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molasses


"Sulfured molasses is made from young green sugar cane and is treated with sulfur dioxide, which acts as a preservative, during the sugar extraction process. Unsulfured molasses is made from mature sugar cane and does not require treatment with sulfur during the extraction process. There are three grades of molasses, Mild or first molasses, Dark or second molasses, and Black strap. These grades may be sulfured or unsulfured.

To make molasses, which is pure sugar cane juice, the sugar cane plant is harvested and stripped of its leaves. Its juice is extracted from the canes, usually by crushing or mashing. The juice is boiled to concentrate which promotes the crystallization of the sugar. The results of this first boiling and removal of sugar crystal is first molasses, which has the highest sugar content because comparatively little sugar has been extracted from the juice. Second molasses is created from a second boiling and sugar extraction, and has a slight bitter tinge to its taste.

The third boiling of the sugar syrup gives black strap molasses. The majority of sucrose from the original juice has been crystallized but black strap molasses is still mostly sugar by calories; however, unlike refined sugars, it contains significant amounts of vitamins and minerals. Black strap molasses is a source of calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron. One tablespoon provides up to 20 percent of the daily value of each of those nutrients. Black strap is often sold as a health supplement, as well as being used in the manufacture of cattle feed, and for other industrial uses."

Also from
http://www.homefamily.net/index.php?/categories/results/what_is_the_differenc...

(ref Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter, June 2001)

"Blackstrap molasses is more nutritious than regular containing significantly more iron, calcium, potassium, and copper."
Regular Molasses (1 tbsp) vs Blackstrap Molasses (1 tbsp)
Iron (mgs) 1 vs 3.5
Calcium (mgs) 40 vs 170
Potassium (mgs) 290 vs 500

And last, two more articles about the nutritional content of BSM:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=118

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrientprofile&dbid=85


Regular molasses is still better than white sugar. If you use sugar at all, replace it with the regular molasses. But for the ML drink I would use the one with the most minerals.

Cheers W.I.E.L.

The one I bought says "organic molasses unsulphered" on the label, but it is a blackstrap molasses according to its website. Furthermore, it is black in color, so I guess it is a good bet that it is blackstrap :)

Thank you for your responses – I have always used the Blackstrap molasses, so was a bit confused as to the extreme difference. Guess I will just have to take a bit more of these and risk the extra sugar, or use this batch for my garden and just get a bottle of the blackstrap if it does indeed have close to twice the minerals...

Annoying because its an hour ride - Aaargh!

One good thing: learned some more while searching for answers - so, not so bad after all...

MadArt (ist)