Sugar production

[axelt123]

I was just think about how you would get sugar after TSHTF. As sugar will be a major item for preserving and i was looking at making it from beets but its a complex method.

Any ideas or easy recipies to produce sugar would be good.

axel

[Carrot Cruncher]

To be honest I think we would struggle making sugar as sugar beat was very labour intensive before it got mechanised. The huge amounts of salt required for preserving would also be in short supply unless you lived near a mine or the coast and used the old salt pans that are still scattered around. Worth looking up the old methods of producing them and /or learning different methods of preserving.

A brief history of the techniques used to extract salt using salt pans can be found here: http://www.maldonsalt.co.uk/History-of-Maldon-Salt.html

Wiki has some interesting bits on the history of sugar and its production: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_sugar

[lisaloolibell]

Ive thought of keeping bees and using honey but im scared stiff of them.

[hobo]

Stock up!

https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/info ... htm#link14

Honey, Salt and Sugar should keep indefinitely if stored free of moisture. Watch out for additives in the honey. It is possible to buy honey with water and sugar added. This honey generally doesn't crystallize like pure 100% honey does when stored for a long time. If there are additives, there is no saying how long it will last.

I've already got enough sugar for my jam and chutney making plans this year.

Hobo

[Carrot Cruncher]

Like Lisa said, Honey and sweet fruits would probably be the way to go in any long term scenario. I just googled sugar and it said that in the middle ages in northern / western europe it was known as "white gold" due to its cost and rarity

[axelt123]

yea i suppose i can use honey instead forgot i have bees