Text 3754, 102 rader
Skriven 2006-07-23 12:28:42 av Glen Jamieson
     Kommentar till en text av Dave Drum
Ärende: BEETS OR CANES 60723
============================
 -=> Quoting Dave Drum to Glen Jamieson <=-

 GJ> DD> "Sugar beet is grown in the temperate climates of the world for
 GJ> DD> sugar  whereas in warmer climates, such as Queensland, sugar
 GJ> DD> production is  based on sugar cane. Sugar content of sugar beet
 GJ> DD> is about 25% higher  than that found in sugar cane with
 GJ> DD> production from sugar beet
 
 GJ>I wonder how that figure is obtained.  Yield per Hectare, strength of
 GJ>crushed syrup, or cost of production?

 DD> Not to be a smartass but it seems obvious to me that the figure is 
 DD> weight for weight. IOW - more of the cane is given over to non-sweet 
 DD> fibre than is true with the beet.

That would make cane a much greater producer of sugar on a per area of
ground basis, as canes are about 3 metres high, vs little beets hidden
in the dirt.  As the ultimate aim is conversion of solar energy into
sucrose, and tropical sun is more energetic than that in temperate
climes, cane has the potential to produce more per hectare.

 GJ> DD> supplying  about one third of world production. In most
 GJ> DD> countries where sugar beet  is grown it is considered a high
 GJ> DD> value crop and with a crop length of  about 5 - 6 months is used
 
 GJ>There is no sign of it returning to popularity in Australia.
 GJ>Possibly efficiency of production of cane sugar has also been
 GJ>improving.

 DD> I think that little of your tiny continent is suitable for economic 
 DD> sugar beet production - whether due to climate, water restrictions,
 DD> etc. 

Mine is (almost) as big as yours!  And we do have great lakes inland,
but unfortunately they dried up a few million years ago.  :( Water is
becoming so scarce that some cities are now considering feeding
treated sewage back into the reservoirs, but for some reason the
inhabitants are not too keen on that idea!  Around these parts the
local government is prepared to pay a $200 subsidy to people who
install rainwater tanks, and treated effluent is piped to the main
vegetable growing area, north of the city.

 GJ>And the Victorian dairy industry has since become very powerful.

 DD> Another force precluding sugar beet production. Although I might argue
 DD> that the residue from the crushed beets could be fed the bovines much 
 DD> like Adolph Coors has a nice sideline selling lees from its brewing 
 DD> operations as cattle feed.

And you remember that Vegemite comes from used brewery yeast!

The waste fibre from sugar cane (bagasse) is used to generate
electricity; some is used in the refinery, but the surplus is fed into
the power grid.

Another query... Is sugar beet ever sold as such, for human
consumption?  In other words, do you ever eat it as a snack?  It is
possible to buy sugar cane in areas where it is grown, peel off the
outer layer, and chew the inner, softer fibre to extract the juice.
Alternatively the cane can be fed through rollers to extract the
juice, which is sold as a pleasant, sweet drink by itinerant vendors.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
 
      Title: Anzac Biscuits -From My "Little Aussie Cookbook"
 Categories: Newsgroups, 06mar2002
      Yield: 4 servings
 
      1 c  Plain flour
      1 c  Rolled oats
    3/4 c  Desiccated coconut ;or 1/2
           Amount of shredded
    3/4 c  Caster sugar
    125 g  Butter
      1 tb Golden syrup ;sugar cane
           Syrup, I found it at a world
           Food market
  1 1/2 ts Bicarbonate of soda
      2 tb Boiling water
 
  Preheat oven to slow 150C (300F).  Brush 2 oven trays with melted
  butter or oil.  Place flour, oats, coconut and sugar in a large
  mixing bowl, stir until combined.  Combine butter and golden syrup in
  small pan, stir over high heat until melted.  Mix soda with boiling
  water, add to melted butter and syrup.  Add to flour mixture, stir
  until combined. (I waited till it de-frothed itself to mix it in)
  Shape level tablespoonsful of mixture into balls and flatten
  slightly; place onto prepared trays. Bake 15-20 mins or until crisp
  and golden. Remove from oven, stand 2 mins. Loosen biscuits and cool
  on wire rack.
  
  Makes about 25 Rach
  
  From: Rachel_hoenig@hotmail.Com (Rach)
 
MMMMM
 

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