What is rock sugar?
Rock cane sugar is pure sugar that is crystallized through a specific heating and cooling process that originated in Germany. This process allows large sugar crystals to form, and in addition, the crystals are further sweetened with the addition of caramelized sugar (cooked until it turns a rich brown). The large rock crystals are coated with the sugar mixture and allowed to dry. Rock cane sugar is less refined and tends to be milder than granulated sugar, causing a more subtle flavor and enhancing the nuances of a fine cup of tea. The rock sugar will sweeten your tea without altering it. Our brown sugar contains molasses so it will enhance the flavor of your tea.
Rock sugar is a form of sugar composed of very large sugar crystals. You may also hear rock sugar referred to as “rock candy,” referencing one very popular use for rock sugar. Many candy stores and some markets sell rock sugar for a variety of uses, and it can also be easily made at home. When rock sugar is made, it begins with heating water and adding sugar to it in order to create a supersaturated solution of two parts sugar to one part water. In this supersaturated solution, there is so much sugar in the water that the mixture cannot remain in a liquid form, and sugar starts to precipitate out of the solution in the form of crystals. As the water evaporates, more and more sugar crystallizes, and the crystals typically grow quite large as long as the mixture is not disturbed. The end result is a cluster of very large sugar crystals. Most companies and cooks add sticks or weighted strings to their sugar solution when they make rock sugar. These surfaces provide a space for seed crysta
