Billingtons The Billington’s Way Our Range Our Recipe Collection FOLLOW US For baking news and our latest recipes. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is the difference between refined and unrefined sugar? Unrefined sugars lock in rather than refine out the natural molasses of the sugar cane. It is this difference which gives Billington’s sugar it’s unique richness, depth of flavour and natural colour that refined sugars, which are simply coated in molasses, do not possess. Our unrefined sugar goes through the minimal amount of processing, within its country of origin, in order to maintain its superior quality. Unrefined sugar is entirely produced where the sugar cane is grown. This means it has had the value added where it matters the most- in the country of origin – not in a refinery elsewhere. Because of this, the producers are able to command a very significant premium for these finished products benefiting the local industry and the whole community. Are Billington’s Sugars from sugar cane or beet? Our sugar is manufactured from sugar cane which is grown in tropical climates. Can I replace my everyday sugar with Billingtons? Yes, we highly recommend using Billington’s Golden Granulated sugar as a natural alternative to white refined sugar in your tea, coffee or sprinkled on your cereal. Alternatively, our Demerara sugar is the ideal sugar for sweetening your coffee. Using Billington’s when baking will transform you cakes and baked treats. Try swapping white caster sugar with our Golden Caster Sugar, it will give your cake a lovely golden colour and undertones of a subtle caramel flavour. Light Muscovado, Dark Muscovado and Molasses sugar are the world’s finest soft baking sugars and offer wonderfully rich flavours to your sweet and savoury dishes. Simply swap to unrefined sugar and use the same quantity of sugar as your recipe calls for. Do Billington’s have organic sugars? We have an organic unrefined sugar range available in certain stores. All Billington’s organic sugars are certified by the Soil Association. Organic production methods avoid the use of herbicides, pesticides and artificial fertilisers minimising the damage to the environment. How can I soften my sugar? Ideal storage conditions for our unrefined sugars are inside an airtight container. In certain weather conditions this natural sugar may harden. We would like to assure you that this is not a sign of deterioration. You can easily soften your sugar by placing in a bowl and covering with a damp cloth for 24 hours, this will allow the moisture to return to your sugar. Are Billington’s Sugars gluten free? All of our sugars are gluten free. Are Billington’s Sugars suitable for vegetarians or vegans? Billington’s sugars are suitable for vegetarians and vegans, however, our Golden Icing sugar is produced in a factory which handles egg and therefore carries a ‘may contain traces of’ warning on pack and should be avoided by vegans. Do Billington’s Sugars contain animal bone char? No bone char is used in the manufacturing or processing of our sugars. Are Billington’s Sugars GM free? We do not use genetically modified cane to produce our sugars. Where is the country of origin for Billington’s sugars? We work closely with the growers of Mauritius and the Mauritian Sugar Syndicate in producing our soft brown baking sugars. Our Fairtrade sugars are produced from sugar cane from various locations including Malawi and Brazil. Does Billington’s sugar expire? Sugar is a natural preservative and if stored in accordance with the on-pack instructions, in an airtight container, it can last indefinitely. You may find that your sugar becomes hard over a period of time, however, this can be softened again to continue use. Does Billington’s Sugar contain sulphur dioxide? No sulphur dioxide is used in the production of Billington’s sugars. Why is your packaging non-recyclable? Whilst the paper carton that our sugar is manufactured in can be widely recycled, unfortunately the inner bag is non-recyclable at this time. We continually review our packaging material but we have yet to find a material that is both recyclable and which adequately protects our sugars, preventing it from drying out. Why aren’t all of your sugars fairtrade? Billington’s has always believed in ‘doing the right thing’ and ensures that all of our sugars are ‘fairly-traded’ by paying a premium for quality that is shared equally amongst the growers and producers in the country of origin. As you will appreciate some sources of cane sugar are accredited official “Fairtrade” status and others are not, which is outside our control. We source from countries certified by the Fairtrade Foundation and others such as Mauritius, who are not. All of Billington’s unrefined sugar is produced entirely at source putting the value back where it matters most – in the country of origin. We believe this is a fair, responsible and ethical way to trade sugar. Is your molasses sugar the same as black strap molasses? No, black strap molasses is very thick syrup which is a by-product from the molasses remaining after the sugar extraction from the raw sugar cane. This is a different product to our molasses sugar which is created from the crystallisation of the sugar cane juice. Where can I buy your products? Here is a full stockist list. 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