Demerara sugar is not your everyday sugar; it’s a minimally processed sugar that can take your baked goods and drinks from ordinary to extraordinary.
Below, I’ll cover what exactly demerara sugar is and reveal the top eight brands you can buy. So, let’s get started!
What is demerara sugar?
Demerara sugar is a type of raw cane sugar – like turbinado sugar or Sugar in the Raw. Demerara sugar is characterized by its large, golden-brown crystals and a mild, caramel-like flavor. It gets its name from the Demerara region in Guyana, where it was originally produced. Unlike highly refined white sugar and brown sugar, demerara sugar is less processed and retains a small amount of natural molasses.
Demerara sugar is often sprinkled over baked goods and desserts to create a caramelized topping (think apple crisp, coffee cake, and crème brûlée). Some cocktail recipes also call for Demerara sugar, or you can use it to sweeten your coffee/tea!
How to choose the best demerara sugar
To find the best sugar, I ranked brands using the following five categories:
1. Ingredients: When it comes to choosing demerara sugar, simpler is better. Look for brands that use minimal ingredients – ideally, just raw sugar. No added molasses or additional sweeteners.
2. Consumer feedback: Read reviews and testimonials from fellow food enthusiasts to get a sense of the quality and taste of the demerara sugar you’re considering. Brands that had better reviews scored higher.
3. Nutrition: Okay, sugar is sugar. So, all of the nutritional labels were basically identical. However, I chose brands that were 100% demerara sugar, so they may have some marginal nutritional benefits due to their molasses content and lower glycemic index compared to refined sugar.
4. Track record: Established brands with a long history of producing quality sugar products are often a safe bet. These companies have honed their craft over the years and have a reputation for consistency.
5. Price: Finally, consider your budget. Demerara sugar can vary in price, and while quality is important, you don’t need to break the bank to enjoy it! There are budget-friendly options that are just as good as pricier brands.
Top 8 demerara sugar brands
| Overall Rank | Brand (click link to buy) | Best for |
| 1 | Roland Foods Demerara Rough Cut Brown Sugar Cubes | Overall |
| 2 | India Tree Mauritius Demerara Raw Sugar | Flavor |
| 3 | Florida Crystals Demerara Cane Sugar | Budget-friendly |
| 4 | Jamaican Choice Demerara Brown Sugar | Drinks |
| 5 | Mimosa Demerara Natural Sugar | Baking |
| 6 | Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes | Sugar cubes |
| 7 | Unpretentious Demerara Sugar | Value |
| 8 | Caribbean Rhythms Demerara Sugar | N/A |
#1 Best Overall: Roland Foods Demerara Rough Cut Brown Sugar Cubes
These Roland Foods Demerara Rough Cut Brown Sugar Cubes add a delicious toffee flavor to coffee or tea – not to mention the cubes are super convenient! Use them to make a simple syrup for cocktails like the Old Fashioned or break them up and use them as a crumb topping for desserts. This demerara sugar is also a product of the island of Mauritius, which has been a major producer of high-quality sugar cane for the past 300 years!
Ingredients: Cane Sugar.
#2 Best Flavor: India Tree Mauritius Demerara Raw Sugar
Another Mauritius demerara sugar that stands out for its great flavor is India Tree Mauritius Demerara Raw Sugar. The sugar is milled in Mauritius, an island known for its volcanic ash-enriched soil, which imparts a unique and rich flavor to the sugar. Whether you’re baking, cooking, or simply sweetening your tea, this sugar’s distinct taste will leave a lasting impression.
Ingredients: Pure Cane Sugar.
#3 Best Budget-Friendly Option: Florida Crystals Demerara Cane Sugar
If you’re conscious of your budget but still want to enjoy the goodness of this premium sugar, Florida Crystals Demerara Cane Sugar is the way to go. This budget-friendly option doesn’t skimp on quality. It delivers the delightful flavor and texture of demerara sugar without breaking the bank.
Ingredients: Demerara Cane Sugar.
#4 Best for Drinks: Jamaican Choice Demerara Brown Sugar
If you’re trying to recreate the tropical cocktails you had on your last vacation, Jamaican Choice Demerara Brown Sugar is the real deal. It has a slightly darker, caramel flavor that tastes amazing in lattes or cocktails that use demerara syrup.
Ingredients: Demerara Brown Sugar.
#5 Best for Baking: Mimosa Demerara Natural Sugar
Mimosa Demerara Natural Sugar is a fantastic high-quality cane sugar from Columbia. It comes in a convenient resealable bag and it’s fresh, with a rich aroma and taste that’s great for your baking and cooking needs.
Ingredients: Demerara Sugar.
#6 Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes
Sugar cubes have a certain charm, don’t they? Like Roland Foods, Gilway Demerara Sugar comes in cube form, which is perfect for coffee, tea, and making Old Fashioned cocktails. They dissolve nicely and taste great.
Ingredients: Sugar.
#7 Best Value: Unpretentious Demerara Sugar
Unpretentious is a popular brand with quality, natural products. The best part? You can buy their Demerara Sugar on Amazon! With a generous one-gallon size and the pure, raw goodness of first-pressed sugar cane, this value option ensures you never run out of the sweet stuff when you need it most.
Ingredients: Demerara Sugar.
#8 Caribbean Rhythms Demerara Sugar
Last but not least, we have Caribbean Rhythms Demerara Sugar. Whether you’re making a Caribbean-inspired cocktail or baking, I highly recommend this demerara sugar for that depth of flavor and crunchy texture.
Ingredients: Demerara Cane Sugar.
Comparing demerara sugar brands nutrition facts
As you can see from the table below, all of the brands have about the same nutrition facts, as expected.
In terms of calories and sugar content, both demerara sugar and refined sugar are quite similar. They both primarily consist of sucrose, which is a simple carbohydrate and provides about 4 calories per gram.
But demerara sugar might be a healthier option for a couple of reasons…
The molasses content in demerara sugar provides some trace minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium, which are mostly absent in refined sugar.
Demerara sugar also has a slightly lower glycemic index (GI) compared to refined white sugar. This means it may have a slightly smaller impact on blood sugar levels. However, it’s still a high-GI food and should be consumed in moderation, especially by individuals with diabetes or those looking to manage their blood sugar levels.
| Per 1 Tsp/Per 1 cube | Calories | Fat (g) | Sodium (mg) | Carbs (g) | Sugar (added) (g) | Protein (g) |
| Roland Foods Demerara Rough Cut Brown Sugar Cubes | 20 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| India Tree Mauritius Demerara Raw Sugar | No info given | |||||
| Florida Crystals Demerara Cane Sugar | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Jamaican Choice Demerara Brown Sugar | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Mimosa Demerara Natural Sugar | 16 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Unpretentious Demerara Sugar | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Caribbean Rhythms Demerara Sugar | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
Leave a Comment