Something Sweet - Sorghum...
For those of you who are like me and don't what sorghum is. Its a grass like plant with tops that look like heads of corn. The stalk is sweet consisting of a high sugar content. This plant thrives better in dry, warm weather, and can be found in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Although the United States refer to some sweet syrup as molasses a byproduct of sugar cane, sugar beet extraction. Sweet sorghum syrup is known as "sorghum molasses" in some regions of the U.S .
The stem has a multi purpose, the grain can be used for food, or fuel in the form of ethanol from the stem juice, and fodder from its leaves. Sweet sorghum was widely cultivated in the U.S. since the 1850's for use as a sweeteners and alternative to sugar.
Horse-driven, antique sorghum-cane juicer being operated at an organic farm in central North Carolina, for syrup production - source of image to follow.
I not sure if I'm sharing something that everyone, but me already knows about, but for me it was an interesting fact and something new for me to add to my growing data bank of knowledge of U.S history. Here in the UK my knowledge of sweeteners was limited to sugarcane, sugar beet and maple syrup along with a variety of artificial sweeteners. Through the power of sweet sorghum I feel a little more Americanized :)
Wishing you the reader, an awesome day and start to your week.
I'm from Alabama and my husband was from N.C.. He loved sorghum syrup. I hated it.
ReplyDeleteI'm from Alabama and my husband was from N.C.. He loved sorghum syrup. I hated it.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather sold sorghum that he bought fro a farm in northwest Missouri. He took me to the farm once, you could smell it for miles before me got to the processing plant. I had a steady supply until he passed then I had to try to get it at local grocery store and it's hard to find. I use it in a lot of recipes from both my grandmas. A lot of the recipes from the area I grew up in use it instead of brown sugar. I love using it. Everyone should try it.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather sold sorghum that he bought fro a farm in northwest Missouri. He took me to the farm once, you could smell it for miles before me got to the processing plant. I had a steady supply until he passed then I had to try to get it at local grocery store and it's hard to find. I use it in a lot of recipes from both my grandmas. A lot of the recipes from the area I grew up in use it instead of brown sugar. I love using it. Everyone should try it.
ReplyDelete