What Is Molasses?

Molasses is a residue from sugar refining. When cane or beet sugar is produced it leaves behind a thick, treacly brown gluey liquid that has many uses. Made up of sugar, water, mineral salts and nitrogenous substances molasses is sold as black treacle when it is from cane sugar and can be used in many types of baking and cooking. Treacle is a traditional sweet glaze for baked ham and is often included as an ingredient in Christmas cakes. It should be the main ingredient in treacle tart but modern recipes tend to specify golden syrup instead. Sugar cane molasses is also used to make rum. Sugar beet molasses is an ingredient in animal feeds and is also used to make industrial alcohol. The name molasses comes from the Portuguese "mellaço" which was itself derived from the Greek for honey "mellas". One interesting fact about molasses is that it is a chelating agent. This means it can reverse molecular processes affecting metals. A rusty piece of metal immersed in molasses will eventually return to a shiny condition.

Molasses is a thick, brown to black, honey like substance made when cane or beet sugar is processed. It is used as a sweetener in many countries, and most particularly in England where it is called treacle.