Mascavado

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Unrefined cane sugar that retains some molasses, imparting a rich flavor and dark color to culinary preparations
2. A type of natural sweetener commonly used in desserts and beverages for its unique taste
3. This sugar is often favored by those seeking alternatives to white granulated sugar, offering both sweetness and a hint of caramel-like richness

Etymology: Many people assume this sugar is named after Muscovy, the old name for Russia, but that is a folk etymology. The word comes from Portuguese "mascavado," used of sugar that had not been refined, and it reached English through Iberian trade in cane sugar from the Atlantic colonies. Its Iberian forms are close to "mascabado," which may relate to a verb meaning to strip or remove, but that link is uncertain. The name describes a process rather than a place. The juice is boiled and allowed to crystallise without being centrifuged or washed, so the molasses stays in the crystals and gives the sugar its colour and flavour. Its origin is therefore a description of how it was made, not of where it came from.