Adding sweetness to your favourite recipes or your morning cuppa is one of life’s simple joys. But with so many types of sugars and sweeteners available, how do you know which one to choose?
This guide covers everything you need to know, from everyday white sugars to sweeteners, making it easier to choose the right option for any recipe.
Why cane sugar stands out
Cane sugar comes straight from the juice of the sugarcane plant. That’s it. No artificial sweeteners—just pure, natural ingredients.
Once the sugarcane is harvested, the juice is squeezed out, clarified and crystalised before arriving at our refinery on the bank of the river Thames. There, any impurities are removed, and it’s carefully refined into different types of sugar.
A sugar for every occasion
Different recipes call for different types of sugar, each adding its own flavour and texture, and having the right one to hand makes all the difference.
Brown sugars
Brown sugars get their signature colour and rich flavour from the natural molasses in cane sugar. Tate & Lyle Unrefined Demerara Sugar has large, amber-coloured crystals that add crunch to crumbles and biscuits.
Soft brown sugar melts into your baked goods and marinades, adding an extra depth of richness. The lighter varieties bring a more subtle caramel flavour, whereas the darker versions have a deeper, more treacly taste that pairs beautifully with bold flavours like ginger and coffee.
White sugars
White sugars are a kitchen staple for baking and everyday use.
- Tate & Lyle Pure Cane Granulated Sugar (also known as table sugar) is the go-to for hot drinks and adding a sprinkle over your cereal is a great morning treat.
- Tate & Lyle Pure Cane Caster Sugar’s finer texture is perfect for baking, providing a light and airy texture to your cakes.
- Tate & Lyle Icing Sugar is powdered for a smooth finish, ideal for icing, buttercream and dusting.
- Tate & Lyle Fondant Icing Sugar contains extra glucose, offering a more robust icing to decorate your baked goods.
Preserving sugars
If you enjoy making jams and preserves, go for our range of preserving sugars. Some fruits, like strawberries, are low in pectin (a natural thickener) on their own. Tate & Lyle Jam Sugar includes added pectin to help achieve the perfect consistency.
On the other hand, Tate & Lyle Preserving Sugar has larger crystals that dissolve slowly to prevent burning. It’s fantastic for marmalades or preserves containing fruits with higher-pectin levels, leaving you with a clear, glossy finish.
A lighter way to sweeten
Cutting back on sugar doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice flavour; sugar substitutes and sweeteners are the perfect compromise. Tate & Lyle Sweeteners, made from sucralose, have been crafted to deliver the sweetness you love with less calories.
Sucralose is much sweeter than sugar, so a little goes a long way. In fact, ¼ of a teaspoon of Tate & Lyle Sweetener is all it takes to match the sweetness of a teaspoon of sugar.
For hot drinks, you can also try Tate & Lyle Sweetener Tablets. One tablet has the same sweetness as a teaspoon of sugar, with a single pack offering around 300 servings.
Look at these articles to find out more about our zero calorie sweeteners:
Trusted by professionals, loved by home bakers
Whether it’s the crisp, golden edges of a biscuit or the deep caramel richness in a cake, the sugar and sweetener you choose makes all the difference.
With over 145 years’ experience, Tate & Lyle is trusted by the best. 69.7% of professionals say Tate & Lyle is their preferred sugar*, and you can get that same quality in your own kitchen.
As a proud Fairtrade partner since 2008, we’re also striving to support small-scale sugarcane farmers and their communities worldwide, encouraging ethical sourcing and sustainable production.
Add a little sweetness to your life
From everyday food and drinks to special baked goods, Tate & Lyle Sugars and Sweeteners bring out the best in your creations. Explore the full range of products to find the perfect match for your kitchen.
* This figure is based on those in our sample of pastry chefs who expressed a preference. This research was completed in August 2023. The total sample size is 100, with 76 stating a preference.
