Backcountry Sweetnin' -- Making Sorghum Molasses

Backcountry Notes ^ | February 14, 2010 | Jay Henderson

[jay1949]

Try these folks: http://muddypondsorghum.com/page/1e0yt/About_Us.html

[jay1949]

You’ll need a way to crush the cane. Once the juice is crushed out, you could boil it down in a stock pot or two in the stove. Offhand, I don’t have a good thought about crushing the cane — you’ll need something that generates about 1 mulepower of pressure, though/

[Ellendra]

Anyone know if the canes could be peeled, chopped, and simmered to get the juice out, much the way sugar beets are done? Just in case I can’t find anyone with a cane-crusher to borrow.

[jay1949]

Evidently, you have to rig a cane crusher. I ran across these references, but nothing that would be of direct help for a kitchen operation. It takes about 7 or 8 gallons of juice to produce a gallon of sweet sorghum syrup.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/harvest/msg020731219232.html

http://www.ltl.appstate.edu/436/schools/beech/community/molasses/molassesmake.htm

[Ellendra]

Thank you!