Nothing is added, only the water is removed. It is comparable to white sugar in sweetness and use. This is a processed crystalline by-product of the sugar cane. The cane is chemically stripped of its minerals and bleached. White sugar is quickly absorbed.
Brown sugar is white sugar flavored with molasses.
It is slightly less processed than white sugar. It is steam-cleaned rather than bleached. True raw sugar is not sold in the United States because it is unsanitary. This is not actually made from fruit but from sugar by breaking down the sucrose molecute into fructose and glucose. Its claim to fame is that it reaches the bloodstream more slowly than other kinds of sweeteners and does not affect insulin secretions and blood sugar levels dramatically.