In this article, we will compare and contrast everything you need to know about cane sugar and beet sugar so that you can gain a full understanding of both crops. We will go over all of their uses as well as their preferred growing locations and care needs, such as water and sunlight. Let’s get started and learn all about these natural sweeteners now!
Comparing Beet Sugar vs Cane Sugar
Key Differences Between Beet Sugar vs Cane Sugar
There are a number of key differences between beet sugar and cane sugar. For example, these two plants are from very different plant families: beet sugar is from the amaranth family, while cane sugar is from the poaceae family. In addition, cane sugar grows in very different regions compared to beet sugar, preferring a tropical climate over a temperate one. Finally, the physical description and growing process of beet sugar and cane sugar differs wildly. Let’s go over all of these differences and more in detail now.
Beet Sugar vs Cane Sugar: Classification
One of the key differences between beet sugar and cane sugar has to be their plant families or classifications. While the chemical makeup of these two plants is strikingly similar when processed into sugar, they are from completely different families. For example, cane sugar is from the grass or poaceae family, while beet sugar is from the amaranth family, in the beet subgenus.
Beet Sugar vs Cane Sugar: Description
The physical description of beet sugar and cane sugar is quite different from one another. For example, cane sugar grows in thin stalks that can reach up to 25 feet tall, while beet sugar grows underground as a large root or bulb, leaves only sprouting 2 feet into the air. In addition, cane sugar grows in dense clusters and fields, while beet sugar needs a bit more room for their roots to develop. The root found on beet sugar is a creamy white, with a flat top and leaves growing out of it, while cane sugar is found inside of the stalk. The entire beet sugar plant is edible, while most people only consume the interior portion of a sugar cane stalk, leaving the roots and leaves alone.
Beet Sugar vs Cane Sugar: Uses and Taste
You may already know this, but beet sugar and cane sugar are used in very similar fashions. Both of these plants are imperative to sugar production, though cane sugar is used around the world more often than beet sugar is. However, this has less to do with taste and more to do with growing climates and agricultural capabilities. Some chefs report that granulated sugar from cane sugar is sweeter than beet sugar, though it is unlikely that the general consumer can tell this. However, tasting from the plant directly, beet sugar has a less potent sugary flavor compared to cane sugar. In addition, cane sugar can be used as thatching, while beet sugar is popular in making alcohol and syrups.
Beet Sugar vs Cane Sugar: Hardiness Zones
One of the main differences between cane sugar and beet sugar is where they grow. They have very different hardiness zones from each other, as cane sugar requires a tropical climate to support its long growing season, while beet sugar prefers temperate regions. For example, beet sugar grows best in zones 3-10 for 90 days, while cane sugar grows best in zones 9-10 for 12 months.
Beet Sugar vs Cane Sugar: Water and Light Needs
Cane sugar and beet sugar have fairly similar light and water needs. They both enjoy full and direct sunlight and moist soil. However, beet sugar soil needs to be clear of rocks and kept slightly drier compared to cane sugar soil. While it may take some practice, you can grow sugar from either of these two plants in your own backyard!
