SC - Re: Sugar Questions

[Decker, Terry D.]

The sources I referenced said little about  sugar by-products.  

A tariff list for the Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099-1291, precise date of the
list unstated) lists sugar (with several different classifications), but
does not list any sugar by-products.  Similarly, I do not recall any mention
of sugar by-products as trade goods until molasses starts being distilled
into rum.  This suggests that medicinal treacle was probably shipped in
small, expensive quantities to those apothecaries who requested it.  It may
be that the European need was supplied by Sicily (1091) and Cyprus (1191),
sugar producing areas in Christian hands.

As an unsubstantiated opinion, I would expect sugar and treacle to be
purchased together when dealing directly with the producer, but to be sold
as separate products after the initial purchase, since the retail markets
seem to have different clients.

Bear

> Treacle, usually referred to as a by-product of sugar-refining, was
> being used as a medicine at least by the 15th century.  So was this
> being imported separately?
> 
> Caroline
> 
> > Originally, white sugar was all that was imported into Europe.  By the
> > 15th
> > Century, the wily Venetians were importing "black sugar" and refining
> > it, so
> > they could pocket the refiner's profits.  This suggests that the less
> > refined sugars would be more available in later period cooking than in
> > earlier period cooking with exceptions for sugar producing regions.
> > 
> > Bear 
> 
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