Sugarcane juice

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Sugarcane juice is a type of drink commonly found in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Latin America, and also in other countries where sugarcane is grown commercially.

Evaporated cane juice is a healthier alternative to refined white sugar, mainly due to the fact that it does not suffer the same lengths of processing that refined white sugar does. This enables the evaporated cane juice to retain most of the nutrients that are present in the sugar cane. ^[1]

Regions

Hong Kong

Beginning in the 1970s, street vendors began offering crushed sugarcane juice in Hong Kong. A customer would pay a small fee and the sugarcane would be ground up in a large machine. The juice would be 100% natural. The popularity would eventually lead to bottled sugarcane beverages being sold across supermarkets like PARKnSHOP.

Zanzibar

In Zanzibar, street vendors crush the sugar cane with small amounts of fresh ginger and lime. This concoction is more fresh than the commercially available sugarcane juices found in cans.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, people love sugarcane juice. It is sold fresh by road side vendors only, as the juice starts to turn black very quickly because of oxidation. It is sold in glasses with or without ice. Doctors advise hepatitis patients to drink as much of it as possible, and sugarcane is also national juice of pakistan

India

India grows large quantities of sugar cane and has a regular sugar industry, which is the major consumer of the cane. However, sugar cane juice is enjoyed all over the country. Vendors crush it by the road side and sell the juice. Small pieces of Ginger, Mint and Lemon are also crushed along with the sugar cane to add spice and refreshment to the juice. Some people prefer to chew the cane and suck the juice. Sales go up during festive occasions.

Vietnam

Sugar cane juice is also very popular in Vietnam as a refreshing drink during the hot Vietnamese climate. Sugar cane juice is available at most small street stalls in Vietnam, often sold alongside other popular Asian beverages. Previously, sugar cane juice was sold in small plastic bags filled with ice and tied at the open end with an elastic band around a straw. Buyers could then suck the drink out through the straw. There has been movement to selling sugar cane juice in white foam cups as commonly seen in Vietnam today.

Brazil

In Brazil it is served specially with lemon what gives it a very special taste. Caldo de cana and garapa are both synonyms for sugarcane juice.

Gallery

Sugar Cane for sale on a footpath in Kolkata, India

Sugarcane juice vendors in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Sugarcane juice vendor in Hyderabad, India

See also

• Red bean ice
• Miel de palma
• Garapa

References

1. ^ "The World's Healthiest Foods". The George Mateljan Foundation. 2009. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=120. Retrieved on 27 May 2009.