Homemade Sugar in the Rainforest

These three men are cutting sugar cane in a field in Costa Rica. This cane was loaded onto an oxcart and taken to the small sugar mill. The production of sugar is often a "cottage industry" or takes place in many homes in tropical countries.

In this home along the banks of the Amazon River, the harvested sugar cane is first crushed in order to get the juice to flow out.

The crushed sugar cane is then pressed to squeeze out the juice. Notice the "manpower" required for this! (with one of our group lending a hand)

The juice is carefully collected as it is released from the cane.

The sugarcane juice is boiled in a large copper kettle until there is nothing left but a very thick, brown liquid. This is poured into molds, and when it cools it makes a "cake" of brown sugar. This is not much different than making maple syrup and maple candy in Vermont!

Homemade Sugar in the Rainforest

These three men are cutting sugar cane in a field in Costa Rica. This cane was loaded onto an oxcart and taken to the small sugar mill. The production of sugar is often a "cottage industry" or takes place in many homes in tropical countries.

In this home along the banks of the Amazon River, the harvested sugar cane is first crushed in order to get the juice to flow out.

The crushed sugar cane is then pressed to squeeze out the juice. Notice the "manpower" required for this! (with one of our group lending a hand)

The juice is carefully collected as it is released from the cane.

The sugarcane juice is boiled in a large copper kettle until there is nothing left but a very thick, brown liquid. This is poured into molds, and when it cools it makes a "cake" of brown sugar. This is not much different than making maple syrup and maple candy in Vermont!

Brought to you by the Rainforest Education Project