Molasses Bar Day – February 8, 2025

History of Molasses Bar Day

The word ‘honey’ translates to ‘mel’ in Latin, which resulted in the emergence of the word ‘melaco’ in Portuguese. Finally, ‘molasses’ derives from the two former mentioned words. From Latin to the word ‘molasses,’ there is a sugary tinge in each word. From as early as the 1500s, molasses has been used as a sweetener for food. There are a wide variety of uses for it in cooking — molasses are regularly used for making cookies, gingerbread, sauces, dark rye bread, beers, and molasses bars. In Middle Eastern culture, molasses is produced from dates, grapes, and pomegranates. In baking and cooking, cane molasses was unhesitantly used.

It was popular in America as early as the 19th century when it was plentiful and commonly used as a sweetener in foods and as an ingredient for brewing beer during colonial times. So much so that even George Washington published a molasses beer recipe! The harvesting of sugar cane and stripping it of its leaves was the process of making molasses. People would extract its juice by crushing, cutting, or smashing the sugar cane. The juice is boiled to concentrate it and start the sugar crystallization process. This process is known to contain the highest sugar content.

The first syrup is usually referred to in the Southern states of the United States as cane syrup and not molasses. The second boiling procedure consists of extracting sugar which results in a bitter taste. The third boiling of the sugar syrup yields dark, viscous blackstrap molasses that is known for its robust flavor. Unlike highly refined sugars, molasses contains significant amounts of vitamin B6 and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese. Having only a tablespoon can provide up to 20% of the recommended daily value of each of those nutrients.