The extraction of cane sugar goes back to antiquity, most likely the plant was first cultivated in India. The Greeks and the Romans used to call sugar many names including “Indian salt” and “honey of India”.
Most probably, sugar was brought to the West during the Crusades. Proof of sugar mills is found in Sicily, Italy that date back to the 12th century.
However, centuries ago the Chinese knew how to extract cane sugar and also refine it, although refining sugar was developed much later in the West.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
