If you consider yourself a particularly sweet person, you probably know sugar cane. It is from this plant that what is necessary to produce the sugar with which you sweeten your coffee and your desserts is extracted. It is characterized by its height, which can reach 2 to 4 meters, with very fibrous stems rich in sucrose. From the grass family, it comes from countries with temperate climates such as Asia, India and New Guinea. More than 79% of the sugar produced in the world comes from sugar cane. But be careful, because there are different types of sugar cane. We show you the sugar cane varieties most prominent.
6 types or species of sugar cane and these are their names
We can find up to six types of sugar cane, two of them wild and another four obtained using techniques to improve the genetics of the plant. We are going to see each of them, so that you know the names of the sugar cane varieties and some peculiarities.
wild sugar canes
Starting with the wild varieties, we are going to find mainly two: the Saccharum robustum and Saccharum spontaneum. Let's see.
Saccharum robustum
Saccharum robustum, translated as “robust sugar cane”, is grown in New Guinea. It is a tall plant, and can reach 5 to 10 meters high. They need a sunny climate, although they can withstand temperatures of up to 7 degrees below zero. As for the soil, they prefer one where constant humidity is maintained and much better if it is a sandy type soil.
This variety of sugar cane has been known in botany since 1946 when, officially, an American farmer named Carl Otto Grassl described it in detail and knowledge.
Saccharum spontaneum
This other one has its origins in India wild variety of sugar cane. In terms of height, it is much shorter than the previous variety, because Saccharum spontaneum barely exceeds three meters in length.
It is easy to spread through soils that have been exposed to flooding. This has meant that, in some cases, it has even become a home for animals, such as the Indian rhinoceros, which hides among the grasses.
Far from making sugar, in Nepal, the use they give to the grass is to make roofs and fences for doors.
It is worth highlighting this species of natural sugar cane that is very resistant to pests and diseases. And that has served to give rise to other genetically modified varieties to improve the species.
On the other hand, keep the name of this sugar cane, because it is a plant that is used in Ayurveda, that is, in alternative medicine and has been used in India for many years.
Genetically modified sugar canes
Since we have seen the wild sugar cane varieties We are now going to see the four hybrid types that have been obtained by modifying their genes to make more resistant and interesting plants. These are.
Saccharum sinense
La Saccharum sinense is a sugar cane which began to be cultivated in China and northern India. Not too tall, its height barely reaches one and a half meters or, in some cases, five meters.
Like the varieties we have seen, they require a warm climate and sandy, humid soil, although they can withstand quite cold temperatures, up to 7 degrees below zero if the circumstances arise.
Highlights of this sugar cane its flowering, with pink flowers that sprout from November to March. And its resistance, because it is stronger than the previous ones and also resists dry climates.
This variety has been used in successive improvement treatments and obtaining hybrid types of sugar canes.
Saccharum barberi
The second of the hybrid sugar cane varieties is Saccharum barberi. Its sugar content is lower than that of other varieties and, above all, that of the officinarum species that we will see later.
Saccharum edule
La Saccharum edule It is another of the domesticated or improved species of sugar cane. Another Saccharum grass whose stem is very fibrous and full of sugar. It reaches a height of one and a half to four meters and is cultivated, above all, in Southeast Asia, in the most tropical areas.
Not only the sugar from the canes, but the heads of the flowers are also eaten, if they are caught when they have not yet opened. They can be eaten raw or steamed and even toasted. It is one of those culinary treasures of Indonesian cuisine.
They require a lot of water, which is why we can find them on some Pacific islands where the right conditions exist, with temperatures of 20 to 30 degrees and moderate rainfall.
Saccharum officinarum
La Saccharum officinarum is name of the most cultivated sugar cane. It has stems with internodes in which sucrose accumulates. Although their cultivation began in New Guinea, they are currently grown in all countries with a tropical climate, given the importance that their consumption has acquired, not only of sugar, but also of substances made from it such as ethanol.
This plant has been crossed with other varieties, such as sinense or barberi, to create super species.
It grows very quickly up to 3 or 4 meters high, especially between spring and summer. They are usually harvested before the flowers appear, because the plant's flowering process reduces its sugar content.
Like the other varieties, it needs a sunny climate and sandy, humid soil, as well as good climatic conditions and nutrients to have a good harvest. However, it is a strong and resistant plant.
Since ancient times, this plant has been used to extract its sweet juice, cutting and compacting the stems. More recently, about two thousand years ago, in India it began to be extracted by boiling.
Currently, the crop distribution has been expanded and Sugar cane is also grown in Europe. And both the stalks and waste from the sugar industry are fed to livestock, because it was shown that a diet based on this food caused piglets to be born stronger.These are them sugar cane varieties and the data that we have considered interesting to share with you.