Tag: Simple vs complex sugars

Did you know that the term "sugar" actually refers to a broad category of sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, not just the granulated white stuff in your pantry? Understanding how many categories of sugar there are depends entirely on the criteria for classification, from chemical composition to processing methods.

By one scientific measure, the global production of sugar cane reached 1.9 billion tonnes in 2022. This ubiquitous sweetener, commonly known as sucrose, is fundamentally a carbohydrate, but its classification can be broken down further based on its chemical structure and source. This guide explores the different ways sugar can be classified, from a chemical and nutritional perspective.