Tennessee diary
Sorghum vs. Molasses
When Mark and Sherry Guenther demonstrate sorghum making at festivals, the question they’re asked most often is, “What’s the difference between sorghum syrup and molasses?”
Sherry explains: “Sorghum is made from sorghum cane, and molasses is made from sugar cane. Molasses is the by-product of the sugar making industry. The juice of sugar cane is boiled down to make sugar. The syrup that is left after the sugar is strained off is molasses. It is a strong, dark syrup. Sorghum has a milder flavor. The molasses that is purchased in the store is usually blended with corn syrup to make it milder.
“We cannot grow sugar cane here in Tennessee. It takes at lease 10 months and up to 2 years to be ready to harvest, and we don't have a long enough growing season. It takes 3 to 4 months for sorghum cane to be ready to harvest. Sugar cane is planted by cane stalks being laid in the row, and sorghum is planted by seed each year. Sugar cane is grown in South Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and other southern states.”
