Everyone likes to eat sweets, and they have been a part of the culinary journey for centuries. Sugar and mishri are the main ingredients used to make sweets. But do we know the main difference between them? Even though both are made from sugarcane juice, they still taste and look different and are used for other purposes.
Mishri and sugar are different sweeteners derived from sugarcane and processed by juice. But Sugar is a refined sweetener, while Mishri is an unrefined sweetener. Mishri is also known as Khand and Kalkandu. Sugarcane is processed into Sugar to make mishri. On the other hand, mishri is made from raw Sugar mixed with water and milk and poured into large drums where threads are hung. These drums are stored in a cellar until the mishri crystalizes on the thread and dries out.
Major differences
Although both ingredients are used to make sweets or dishes, they contain properties or benefits that signify their differences. So, let’s explore their differences to know which one is better.
Appearance
When it comes to this, sugar comes in a small cubical box that might look like crushed powder. Moreover, Mishri comes in different forms, some in cubical boxes but bigger than sugar. If you go for organic Mishri, it is greyish-yellow in color and not as crystal clear as other ones.
Culinary use
Although the use of Mishri and Sugar is the same, they work as sweetening agents. Whether it’s cold or hot beverages, both of them work similarly.
Sugar is even used as a bulking agent, as it contains the properties that help gain weight. As Mishri contains fewer sweetening properties than Sugar, sugar is highly used for baking purposes as it helps in caramelization and browning, and it adds texture and volume to baked goods. In short, both sweeteners have culinary uses and can be used in various dishes and beverages depending on the desired taste and texture.
Value of Nutrition
When it comes to nutritional value, both contain 20 to 25 calories. However, you can consider Mishri over sugar, which is purer and more refined than sugar. Moreover, Mishri is supposed to have cooling qualities, while sugar has more heating attributes, which also signifies its quality.
Processing
Sugar is mainly made by extracting the juice from the plant and heating it to remove the excess water. While Mishri is made from sugar by heating it until it crystallizes. Once the process is done, it is transformed into small pieces.
Health benefits
You might not know the benefits, but many health benefits have been traced to those who consume Mishri rather than sugar. In Ayurveda, Mishri is the medicine that helps balance the body’s vata and doshas. You cannot consume Mishri as much as you want, but be mindful of the amount you use in your food items. We all know mindful eating is better and more effective for everyone.
Sugar has therapeutic properties. The control portion of sugar has neither a negative nor a positive side. If you have a sweet tooth, it can disbalance your blood sugar level, cause you to gain weight, and cause diabetes or other chronic inflammation.
Mishri is alkaline in nature, while sugar is acidic. So if someone wants to maintain the pH level, it is better to consume Mishri than Sugar.
Concluding note
In this competition of differences, Mishri is the winner. In this article, we learned that Mishri is way better than sugar as it contains beneficial properties. But that doesn’t mean you have the liberty to increase the amount of sweetness in your food items. You can replace it with sugar, but eat mindfully. For more such information, explore Cultures Food.
