Sucanat vs Honey: The Ultimate Verdict

Honey, a delightful and thick substance produced by honey bees, serves as nourishment for bee colonies. It is created by the bees collecting and refining sugary secretions from plants. Another somewhat natural sugar alternative is sucanat, a brand of whole cane sugar that retains its natural molasses content. Derived from pure dried sugar cane juice, sucanat is obtained through mechanical extraction, followed by a heating and cooling process that results in small, brown, grainy crystals. While both sweeteners offer distinct flavors and textures, they do have some key differences. Let’s look at what they are.

Comparing Sucanat vs Honey

	Sucanat	Honey
Substitution ratio	1 cup sucanat: ½ – ¾ cup honey	½-¾ cup honey: 1 cup sucanat
Gluten-free?	Yes	Yes
Keto-friendly?	No	No
Paleo-friendly?	No	Raw and unpasteurized in moderation
Common Allergens	Sugarcane	Honey, certain pollens
Pantry shelf life (unopened/sealed)	2 plus years	Indefinite
Best for baking	Cookies, brownies, banana bread	A wide variety of cakes, flaky pastries, and sweet treats

Differences Between Sucanat And Honey

Real honey and sucanat are both natural sweeteners with distinct characteristics and health benefits.

Honey is known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is derived from the nectar of various flowers, giving rise to different honey varieties. Composed mainly of sugars like fructose and glucose, honey also contains water, carbohydrates, and trace amounts of vitamins and minerals. It remains in a liquid state when stored below its melting point and thickens as the temperature decreases. Honey is widely used not only as a sweetener but also as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. It is often taken orally to alleviate coughs and used topically to promote wound healing and treat burns.

On the other hand, sucanat, short for “sugar cane natural,” is made from lightly processed sugar cane juice. It has a distinctive tannish-brown color and granules of varying sizes. Sucanat retains a natural molasses-like taste, adding depth and complexity to baked goods and other recipes. While it contains glucose and fructose like conventional sugar, sucanat also has trace minerals such as iron, calcium, and potassium, naturally present in sugar cane molasses.

Honey and sucanat have their own unique advantages when cooking. Honey, with its floral sweetness, enhances flavors and pairs well with both sweet and savory dishes. It works particularly well in recipes that call for a liquid sweetener. On the other hand, sucanat’s molasses undertones provide a rich and earthy flavor that can add complexity to baked goods and recipes that specifically call for brown sugar.

Taste and Culinary Uses

When it comes to honey, its flavor profile extends far beyond mere sweetness. Depending on the nectar source, honey can showcase a delightful array of notes, ranging from floral and fruity to earthy. Honey is a remarkably versatile ingredient, bestowing flavor and texture upon a multitude of sweet and savory creations. It enriches casseroles, sauces, and dressings, lending them a subtle and unique taste.

Sucanat offers a taste experience that is altogether different from traditional sugars. With a more pronounced and robust flavor, sucanat delivers a delightful depth that elevates both drinks and baked goods. Its distinct taste profile makes it a splendid addition to sauces, syrups, and beverages, adding a different kind of richness that cannot be achieved with regular table honey.

Are Sucanat and Honey Substitutes for Each Other?

1. Replace ½ to ¾ cup of honey or maple syrup for each cup of sucanat in the recipe.

2. When substituting a liquid for a granulated sweetener (e.g., using honey instead of sucanat or brown sugar), reduce the liquid portion by 1/8 to 1/4 cup for every 1 cup of liquid sweetener. Adjusting the flour may work better in some recipes than decreasing the liquid.

3. When replacing a granulated sweetener with a liquid one, add 1/4 cup of liquid from the recipe for every 1 cup of sweetener.

4. When baking with honey or maple syrup, lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Honey and maple syrup caramelize and burn faster than granulated sweeteners.

Nutritional Profile And Health Benefits

Honey (1 tbsp.):

• Calories: 60
• Total carbs: 17 g
• Sugars: 17 g
• GI: 58

Sucanat (2 tsp.):

• Calories: 30
• Total carbs: 8 g
• Sugars: 7 g
• GI: 55

Honey and Sucanat offer distinct health benefits. Honey possesses phytochemical, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, making it a potential therapeutic aid in disease treatment. Rich in flavonoids and polyphenols, it acts as an antioxidant. On the other hand, sucanat contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a better choice than white sugar. Additionally, it supports brain function by providing glucose, which is essential for optimal body functioning. It is important to recognize that both are still sugars and should be consumed in moderation.

Diet Suitability

Honey, which is produced by bees through a process involving the collection and storage of nectar, is not considered vegan due to its origin and production process. It is also not recommended for those following a keto diet, as it can disrupt ketosis. However, honey aligns with the principles of a paleo lifestyle, as it is considered a whole food. Unadulterated raw honey is particularly valued in this diet, while pasteurized honey is not recommended due to its heat processing.

Sucanat is a vegan and non-GMO sweetener. It is not specifically suitable for keto, paleo, or Whole30 diets. Whole30 adherents are required to eliminate all sweeteners, including honey and sucanat, from their diet.

How to Store Sucanat and Honey

To maintain the quality of honey, store it in airtight glass jars to prevent air exposure when not in use. Avoid using non-food plastic or metal containers, which can lead to honey oxidation.

For sucanat, store it in a cool, dry place and avoid refrigeration.

Price and Availability

Honey is priced at a starting point of $2.96 per pound, with the potential for higher costs.

On the other hand, sucanat can range from $2.00 to $6.00 per pound and is usually exclusive to specialty stores.

Environmental Impact

One sweetener that stands out in terms of low greenhouse gas emissions from food production is honey, which is derived from beekeeping. Unlike other farming practices, beekeeping does not involve the use of tractors or large machines for harvest, and it does not rely on fertilizers. The process of bringing honey from the hive to your cupboard is relatively simple, making it not only a sustainable choice but also a natural one.

On the other hand, sucanat is produced from sugarcane, which is usually more detrimental to the environment. But, it can be considered a more sustainable and eco-friendly option than white table sugar.

Sucanat vs. Honey: The Ultimate Verdict

Sucanat is excellent, but there are other great molasses-y sugars out there, too. Honey is in a league of its own. You can spread it on your toast while also using some to treat a burn. How cool is that? The same cannot be said for sucanat, so honey has my vote this round.

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