"Ancient brown sugar" is relative to modern "brown sugar", which is hand-boiled brown sugar produced by an ancient process. This technology started in Han Dynasty and flourished in Tang Dynasty. It was recorded in the Ming Dynasty's Tiangong Kaiwu in detail, including the basic steps of squeezing juice, foaming, driving water, extracting sugar, beating sand and casting. From the juice extraction of sugarcane to the storage of finished products, these sugars are completely crystallized by physical methods.
The ancient brown sugar is massive, and there is obvious sandy texture in the sugar. In Compendium of Materia Medica [Fruit Volume 33, Fruit Sugar 5], it is recorded that the basic physical properties of brown sugar are "condensed like stone, broken like sand". "Compendium of Materia Medica" records that "Shizhen said: This purple sand sugar is also! Method out of the western regions, Tang Xuanzong make people take its method into China ".
Modern "brown sugar" is actually not real brown sugar, but the scientific name is red sugar. Ancient brown sugar is very different from modern brown sugar in many ways. Mainly manifested in:
1. The manufacturing principle is different: physical crystallization and chemical purification of PK.
The production principle of ancient brown sugar is essentially different from that of modern sugar making method. The purpose of modern sugar making method is to purify sucrose (C 12H22O 1 1) from sugarcane, and other substances are treated by chemical methods.
The purpose of the traditional sugar-making process followed by ancient brown sugar is to crystallize all the sugar in sugarcane. Sugarcane is a wonderful "bio-manufacturing factory". After sugarcane matures, besides sucrose, it also contains fructose, reducing sugar, glucose, molasses, vitamins and mineral trace elements, as well as malic acid, folic acid, riboflavin, carotene, nicotinic acid and trace elements such as manganese and zinc, which are indispensable for human growth and development.
2. The production process is different: manual boiling PK mechanical processing.
Modern "brown sugar" is made by chemical and mechanical methods. First, some reducing sugars are converted into sucrose, and then the sucrose is separated and purified. The residue after the purification of white sugar is modern brown sugar, so this "brown sugar" is the leftover of white sugar, and the price is very low. It is hard to avoid some chemical residues in this "brown sugar".
The ancient brown sugar completely adopts the ancient technology passed down for thousands of years, and the production line adopts the traditional "serial pot" and "direct air stove", which is completely cooked by hand. From the juice extraction of sugarcane to the final finished product storage, the physical method is completely adopted, and no chemicals and additives are artificially added.
3. Different physical properties: lump brown sugar PK powder brown sugar
Modern brown sugar is powdery or crystalline, so its scientific name is "brown sugar", which means red sandy sugar.
However, the ancient brown sugar is blocky, which is completely in line with the basic physical properties of brown sugar recorded in Compendium of Materia Medica [Volume 33, Fruit Five Sugar], which is "condensed like stone, broken like sand".
Obviously, from the basic characteristics, it is a misunderstanding that the current brown sugar is called "brown sugar", which is not the same product as the brown sugar passed down for thousands of years. Therefore, many women lament that the current "brown sugar" is not delicious and doesn't work.
4. The taste and efficacy are different: medicine and food are homologous PK sweet seasoning.
The ancient brown sugar is rich in sugarcane flavor and smooth in taste, and can be eaten by dry chewing. However, the modern industrialized brown sugar smells pungent sulfide, and if it is directly eaten, it has a salty feeling, commonly known as "the scorpion".
The definition of brown sugar, which is mistaken for "brown sugar", is as follows (from Baidu Encyclopedia): Brown sugar is one of the essential condiments in people's daily diet.
It can be seen that from the efficacy point of view, modern "brown sugar" is a sweetener, mainly used for kitchen seasoning; However, the ancient brown sugar crystallizes fructose, reducing sugar, glucose, molasses, vitamins and mineral trace elements in sugarcane, which is a mixture, a multi-component sugar and has the effect of warming and nourishing.
Extended data:
Main effects of ancient brown sugar
1, invigorating qi and promoting blood circulation
The warming elements contained in ancient brown sugar can accelerate blood circulation, increase blood volume, stimulate the hematopoietic function of the body, expand blood volume, and improve the nutrition, oxygen and water supply of local skin.
2. Relieve dysmenorrhea
Because of the effect of ancient brown sugar on promoting blood circulation and warming uterus, it has obvious relieving effect on dysmenorrhea, which has long been recognized by everyone.
3, skin care and beauty
The ancient brown sugar contains a variety of vitamins and antioxidants, which can resist free radicals, rebuild and protect the cell infrastructure, and maintain the normal function and metabolism of cells. In addition, amino acids, cellulose and other substances contained in ancient brown sugar can effectively restore the fiber structure and water-locking ability of epidermis and dermis, and strengthen the skin tissue structure and skin elasticity.
Some natural acids and pigment regulating substances contained in ancient brown sugar can effectively regulate various pigment metabolism processes, balance the amount of pigment secretion and pigment distribution in the skin, and reduce the abnormal accumulation of local pigments.
4. Maternal rehabilitation
"Bad blood is inexhaustible, so good blood is difficult to settle down" is a general knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine since ancient times, which emphasizes the importance of postpartum lochia. Women's postpartum body is full of blood stasis, and eight veins are empty, which causes abdominal pain every time. Doctors often prescribe Shenghua Decoction, Shixiao Powder or Jinlingzi Powder for patients with partial stasis, and instruct them to take it with brown sugar after decoction, so as to achieve the purpose of relieving pain by using the function of brown sugar to "dredge stasis" or "expel lochia".
5. Replenish energy
Various monosaccharide and polysaccharide energy substances such as glucose and fructose contained in ancient brown sugar can accelerate the metabolism of skin cells and provide energy for cells, so it is also called "Oriental Chocolate".
References:
Baidu encyclopedia ancient brown sugar