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Humans are no strangers to sugar and sugar-based food items as they have been a part of our civilization since ancient times. It is fair to assume that most of us use sugar directly or indirectly on a daily basis.
One major sugar type that has dominated the markets in recent years is the ICUMSA 45 sugar which is known for its fine white grains as well as exceptional purity.
Here is what the CEO of B A Barry Group Mr Basem Barry has to say
“ICUMSA 45 sugar is the world’s leading and industry preferred sugar owing to the fact that it is both pure and flavorful compared to other refined sugars.”
This article delves into the ICUMSA 45 sugar in detail. This information will prove useful in your deeper understanding of this high-quality sugar so keep on reading till the end.
What is the ICUMSA 45 Sugar?
Key Features of the ICUMSA 45 Sugar
The ICUMSA 45 Sugar: Complete Refining Process
The Quality Standards for the ICUMSA 45 Sugar
Applications of the ICUMSA 45 Sugar
Benefits of Using the ICUMSA 45 Sugar
Before we look into the ICUMSA 45 sugar, let’s first discuss what is ICUMSA. The term itself stands for International Commission for Uniform Methods for Sugar Analysis. It is basically a regulatory organization responsible for setting global standards for sugar quality control. They do this on the basis of the ICUMSA test.
The test involves measuring the absorbance of light by the sugar using a colorimeter or photometer at different wavelengths. The absorbance is greater for the brown sugar while less for the white sugar.
The ICUMSA rating of 45 indicates the sugar is highly refined and pure which serves as the standard against which the quality or purity of other types of sugars is measured.
The ICUMSA 45 sugar is a sparkling white sugar that gives out a pure sucrose taste and is known for its fine granules. This sugar is ideal for human consumption as its vigorous processing removes all the bacteria or contaminants that are often a part of raw sugars.
A more practical way of looking at the ICUMSA scale is this; if a sugar is whiter and clearer its ICUMSA rating will be close to 45 and hence the purer it will be. A rating of 45 means there is a very low level of coloration or impurities in the sugar which indicates its high purity.
The ICUMSA 45 sugar is different from raw and brown organic sugar as these possess very high ICUMSA ratings of approximately 1000 to 1200. The higher the ICUMSA rating the less refined and darker the sugar will be.
The 45 rating of ICUMSA sugar makes it suitable for both domestic as well as commercial food and beverage applications.
Following are the main characteristics of the ICUMSA 45 sugar that set it apart from the rest
It comes in a shiny or sparkling white color.
This sugar gives you 99.8% sucrose which ensures a consistent sweet taste free from off-flavors that are caused by impurities in raw sugars.
The ash content of ICUMSA 45 sugar is about 0.04% which is extremely low showing there are minimum non-sugar components.
It has very fine grains that dissolve instantly in liquids. This high solubility makes it ideal for baking and making beverages both on a large and small scale.
This sugar has a much higher shelf life owing to its very low moisture content which is about 0.04%.
The process of turning normal sugar into pure organic sugar that meets the standards set by ICUMSA is a really comprehensive one. The final ICUMSA 45 sugar product is said to have zero impurities and a shiny white appearance.
Following are a few key steps involved in the process
1. Extraction
The first step involves the crushing of sugar cane or sugar beets to obtain raw juice.
2. Clarification
The juice obtained is mixed with lime and heated which eliminates impurities. In this step, some clarification agents are added to the mix that coagulate the impurities which makes them settle down and hence easy to separate.
3. Filtration
Then the juice is filtered to remove the coagulated impurities. This prepares it for further processing.
4. Evaporation
The filtered juice is then boiled in a vacuum and concentrated. Boiling leads to the evaporation of water or moisture from the mixture.
5. Crystallization
To promote crystallization, the concentrated juice is seeded with crystals of pure sugar. The crystals are then separated from the remaining liquid (molasses) with the help of a high-powered centrifugal machine.
6. Affination
This process refers to the washing of the raw sugar crystals to remove any molasses coating that might remain after centrifugation.
7. Carbonation or Photoporation
Further treatment of sugar with CO2 or phosphoric acid is done to get rid of impurities and enhance quality.
8. Filtration and Decolorization
In this step, first, the solution is filtered and then treated with ion exchange resins or activated carbon to remove colorants or other similar impurities.
9. Final Crystallization
The solution is again crystallized using the same process to obtain extremely fine sugar crystals.
10. Drying and Packaging
The sugar obtained is dried and screened for uniformity in this step. After that, it is packed and shipped to consumers and industries across the globe.
After the preparation, a series of standardized tests are performed to ensure the quality and purity of The ICUMSA 45 Sugar.
Following are the main steps involved in the quality control process of this sugar
This test is done to determine the ICUMSA rating and hence the purity of the sugar. It basically involves measuring the absorbance of the sugar in a colorimeter. If the ICUMSA rating of the sugar is 45 or close to it it is considered pure.
The color measurement of the ICUMSA 45 sugar is done using spectrophotometry to make sure it meets the whiteness standards set by the ICUMSA.
It is done to measure the sucrose content in the sugar. It involves the analysis of the rotation of the polarized light when it passes through the sugar solution.
The moisture content analysis is done with the help of infrared drying or the Karl Fisher Titration test to ensure it is under 0.04%.
The sugar is tested for bacterial or microbial contamination to make sure it is safe for raw consumption, industrial use, as well as medical applications.
This test involves incinerating the sugar and analyzing its residue by weighing it. This shows the content of inorganic impurities in the sugar. The ICUMSA 45 sugar must have an ash content of about 0.04%.
The exceptional purity, consistent quality, and fine granulation of the ICUMSA 45 sugar make it a key ingredient both in industrial as well as domestic applications.
Following are a few main areas where this sugar is considered an indispensable commodity
This industry uses it for making confectionery, baked goods, dairy products, juices, soft drinks, etc. The high solubility and neutral taste make it the best option for this industrial application.
This sugar is an ingredient in tablets, syrups, and countless other medicinal formulae. It is preferred in these applications as the high purity that it offers is crucial to avoid interference with the active ingredients of the medicines.
It finds applications in the making of cosmetics as well as other personal care products. These include scrubs or masks, where purity and lack of impurities are always the number one requirement.
ICUMSA 45 sugar finds numerous applications in this industry where it is used to create alcoholic beverages, including spirits and liqueurs. It gives these products sweetness consistency as well as clarity.
It is used in domestic kitchens for cooking and baking. It is also a key ingredient for sweetening beverages in households.
Following are some of the main advantages of using ICUMSA 45 sugar
It is one of the purest forms of refined sugar that guarantees consistent taste and zero impurities.
The processing of this sugar yields a product that is consistent in color as well as taste and granular appearance.
It gives you high solubility and a neutral taste which goes well with a large range of versatile foods and beverages.
It is used in confectionery and baking to give these items more aesthetic appeal.
It is ideal for industries with strict regulatory requirements as it meets the highest quality control standards.
It has a much longer shelf life as compared to raw sugar due to low moisture and impurity content.
The ICUMSA 45 sugar is an invaluable commodity as it is among the purest and the most flavorful sugars available in the market. It finds applications in a wide range of industries including medicine, food and beverages, cosmetics, and many more.
What makes this sugar great is its high purity, fine granular appearance, and very low moisture and ash contents. The process of making this sugar is a rigorous one that involves frequent heating, filtration, and drying which gives you a final product that guarantees the highest purity as well as quality control.
The ICUMSA 45 sugar is a highly pure sparkling white sugar that gives out a pure sucrose taste. It meets the quality control standards set by the ICUMSA and has a rating of 45.
Brazil is the largest producer of ICUMSA 45 sugar.
The higher the ICUMSA rating is the less pure and darker is the sugar due to high molasses content. Sugar with ICUMSA 150 thus is less white in color and has some impurities that are not present in ICUMSA 45 sugar.
ICUMSA stands for International Commission for Uniform Methods for Sugar Analysis and it is a regulatory organization responsible for setting the global standards for sugar quality control.
Under normal conditions, the ICUMSA sugar has an indefinite shelf life.
The test involves measuring the absorbance of light by the sugar using a colorimeter or photometer at different wavelengths.
ICUMSA's color standard for pure sugar is sparkling white. The ICUMSA color scale measures the yellowness of the sugar which results from molasses content.
It is used in the food and beverages industry, cosmetics, medicine, and household applications.
This sugar ranges in size between 0.60 - 0.90 mm.
