Unit 2 - Lesson 3 - Molasses Flashcards

1
Q

Why was rum named as it was?

A

SacchaRUM OfficianaRUM or sugar canes official name

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the only base raw materials used in rum?

A

Sugar cane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the definition of rum?

A

Distilled alcohol produced <96% by from the fermentation of sugar cane or its derivatives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the derivatives of sugar cane?

A

Sugar Cane Juice
Molasses
Sugar Cane Syrups
Cane Sugar

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why is rum <96% ABV?

A

To keep the organoleptic characteristics

eg the natural volatile elements

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the 3 rum standards outlining rules?

A

CARICOM Rum Standard
Alcohol & Tobacco Trade & Tax Bureau
EU Regulations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is sugar cane?

A

Grass Family

Saccarum genus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is hybridization?

A

Combining different species for hybrids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How tall can cane sugar reach?

A

4m

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the components of sugar cane?

A

Leaf
Bud
Node
Internode

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How is sugar cane planted?

A

Typical from stem cuttings but also seeds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the growing cycle for sugar cane?

A

Can be year round in the tropics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the life cycle of sugar cane plant?

A

5 - 7 years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is rooting?

A

Leaving sugar cane root to regrown next season usually 10-12m between harvest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the 3 sugar cane products?

A

Pure sucrose
Plant residues such as bagasse
Molasses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Where is sugar mainly found?

A

at the lower portion of the cane so cutting close to the roots are important

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the maximum sucrose by weight? the average?

A

24%

15-18% is average

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is often done to sugar cane fields prior to harvest?

A

Set on fire to get rid of leaves, bugs and snakes

Canes resprout

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How are sugar canes harvested?

A

Either by hand or mechanical

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the basic steps in sugar can processing?

A
  1. Crush canes
  2. Suspended & soluble plant material removed (clarification or filtration) Lime is added to aid precipitation
  3. Collected juice is heated
  4. Heating reduces viscosity - speeds settling
  5. solids removed
  6. Juice heated and evaporate on vacuum pans
  7. Evaporation leads to sugar crystals & molasses
  8. Centrifuge to separate sugars and molasses
  9. Repeat centrifuge
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Why is lime used in sugar cane processing?

A

Calcium Hydroxide (Lime) to precipitate insoluble plant debris

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How much can 100T of sugar cane produce?

A

Up to 3t of molasses and bagasse with 1-2% sugars

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How much sugar in sugar cane juice and what is the pH?

A

18-24%

5.0-5.5% pH

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Why is it important to immediately use sugar cane juice after crushing?

A

There are wild yeast and bacteria and you want to avoid fermentation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What type of rum does sugar cane juice make?

A

Rhum Agricole & Cachaça

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Why is sugar cane juice suitable for a distiller?

A
  1. Rapid fermentation
  2. No need to treat or additional processes before fermentation
  3. No additional nutrients
    4, The process effluent is easy to treat or recylce
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

When does it make sense to recover more sugar from the cane over molasses?

A

When sugar prices are high

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

If sugar prices are low, what do refiners seek to make?

A

High Test Molasses - concentrated sugar cane juice
No sugar removed
80% sugar by weight
Rich in nutrient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What is High Test Molasses?

A
Concentrated sugar cane juice
No sugar removed
80% sugar by weight
Rich in nutrient
Good for rum fermentation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is molasses?

A

VIscous byproduct of sugar production

Can be sulphured or unsulphured

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

How is sulphured molasses made?

A

From young green sugar cane and treated with SO2 to preserve the canes fresh

32
Q

What is unsulphured molasses?

A

Made from mature sugar cane and does not require SO2 during extraction

33
Q

What does SO2 do for sugar cane?

A

Acts as a bleaching agent and anti-microbial

Lightens molasses’ color and kills bacteria

34
Q

Grade A Molasses

A

Light molasses
65% sucrose - highest of all grades
1st crystallization stage

35
Q

Grade B Molasses

A

2nd boiling & crystallization
60% sucrose
Slightly bitter taste

36
Q

Grade C Molasses

A
"Blackstrap Molasses"
3rd boil and crystallization
Dark-colored syrup
Some glucose and fructose
50% sucrose by weight
Specific gravity of 1.45
37
Q

What is Blackstrap Molasses?

A

Grade C molasses

1.45 specific gravity

38
Q

What is the water to solids breakdown of Molasses?

A

15-25% H20

75-85% solids - sugars, protein, carbs, acids, salt, vitamins

39
Q

What factors influence seasonal changes in molasses?

A
  1. Quality of sugar cane
  2. Climatic conditions
  3. Harvesting and processing methods
  4. Soil conditions
40
Q

Why is molasses suitable as a raw material for rum (3 reasons)?

A
  1. Cheap source of fermentable sugar
  2. Contains yeast nutrients for yeast growth
  3. Stable, easy to transport, stored for months or years
41
Q

How to store molasses?

A
  1. Cool/dry location
  2. Below 40ª C (sugar breaksdown here)
  3. Can be a safety hazard with increased pressure
  4. > 60ªC can lead to carbonization
  5. has microbes so low humidity to avoid fermentation
42
Q

Why can their be variations in molasses?

A
Sugar producers make sugar (not molasses) so do not seek consistency
Variations from:
1. crop
2. refining process
3. sulphur or unsulphured
43
Q

Why is analysis of molasses important for a distiller?

A

The composition can be variable and you need to know the composition of the sugars for the estimated alcohol production

44
Q

What is chemical analysis of Blackstrap molasses by % weight eg sugars, water, other?

A
Sugar 35%
Glucose & Fructose 15%
Inorganic salts (ash) 10%
Water 20%
Other Plant material 20%
45
Q

Is a distiller concerned about water weight of molasses?

A

No just as long as it doesnt have too much

46
Q

What are the components of the plant material in molasses?

A
  1. Small amounts of nitrogen - yeast growth kickstart fermentation
  2. vitamins biotin & pantothenate - yeast growth
  3. Vitamin Thiamin - yeast fermentation
  4. Mineral salts for growth and fermentation
47
Q

Is the nitrogen content sufficient in molasses for fermentation?

A

It is low so requires additional nitrogen during the fermentation process

48
Q

What vitamins are found in molasses?

A

Biotin
Pantothenate
Thiamine

49
Q

What is ash in molasses?

A

Inorganic salts

Gives and indication of calcium and sludge content

50
Q

Why is knowing ash / calcium & sludge content of molasses important?

A

Calcium sulphate (scales) can form on the pipes and distillation equipment

51
Q

How high may Ash content in molasses get?

A

up to 15%

52
Q

How do you obtain a specific gravity?

A

Hydrometer - a glass instrument with floatation bulb.

53
Q

What does Brix mean?

A

Brix represents the sugar weight by %
eg 49ª Brix in pure sugar solution = 49% weight of sugar
Also measure with temps for accuracy

54
Q

What is the standard temperature in C for Brix reading?

A

20ª C

55
Q

Why can’t Brix reading give an accurate sugar weight result in molasses?

A

It is not a pure sugar solution since there is other suspended matter in the molasses

56
Q

What is another instrument used other than Brix?

A

Refractometer

57
Q

How does a refractor meter work?

A

Directly measures the refractive index of molasses (or grape) sample

58
Q

What is Total Sugar as Invert (TSAI)

A

A way of reporting sugar content
Total measure of sucrose, glucose, & fructose
glucose, & fructose are reducing /inverting sugars
Sucrose is not

59
Q

What type of sugars are glucose & fructose?

A

Reducing or inverting sugars

60
Q

What is Total Sugar as Sucrose (TSAS)

A

Measures the sucrose content

61
Q

Where do volatile acids come from and why are they bad for yeast?

A

Volatile acids may be natural or come from processing

They can negatively impact yeast performance and efficiency since they are poisonous.

62
Q

What are some common Volatile Acids?

A

Acetic Acid

Formic Acid

63
Q

Where should Volatile Acid Levels ideally be below?

A

<2500 mg/L

64
Q

Why cannot micro-organisms grow in raw, undiluted molasses?

A

Osmotic pressure is too high

And not enough water for yeast or bacteria

65
Q

What is Osmotic Pressure?

A

Osmosis allows solvent to pass from a dilute to concentrated solution through permeable membrane
Pressure builds as this flows on the concentrated solution side and this is osmotic pressure

66
Q

What are the 2 types of bad bacteria found in Molasses?

A

Leuconostoc mesenteroides - causes yield loss

Zymomonas mobllis - bad aromas

67
Q

What other sources than sugar can create molasses?

A
Sugar Beet - Beta Vulgaris
Sweet Sorghum
Sugar Palm
Citrus Peel
Typically used in fuel ethanol
68
Q

What is sugar beets know as?

A

Beta Vulgaris

69
Q

How long does it take beets to grow?

A

Biennial or two years

70
Q

What is the sucrose weight of sugar beets?

A

15-20%

71
Q

When are beets harvested?

A

Winter or autumn and typically rotated with wheat and barely

72
Q

How much sucrose does Sugar Beet Molasses contain?

A

50% sucrose

73
Q

How are sugar beets processed?

A
  1. Harvested, leaves removed and stored up to weeks without sugar loss
  2. Not crushed by finely sliced and soaked in water to extract sugar
    3, Purer sugar than canes, but lower yields
74
Q

How is citrus molasses processed?

A

By product of citrus fruit residues

75
Q

How does sweet sorghum produce molasses?

A

Grown in tropics.
Difficult extraction
Syrup is like High Test molasses used in fuel ethanol and distilled spirits

76
Q

How are Palm Sugar processed into molasses?

A

Sap from date palm
Found in SE Asia
45% sugar used to make distilled spirits and Arrack, Lambanog

77
Q

What Grade of molasses is used for rum?

A

Grade C - Blackstrap