What is molasses made of?

Common molasses is made from sugar beets and sugarcane, although other molasses-like syrups can be produced from sorghum, carob, grapes, pomegranates, mulberries and dates. Sugarcane molasses, known as black treacle in British English, comes in three varieties based on color and viscosity: light, dark and black strap.

The varieties are produced after the cane is boiled. Light molasses, also known as cane syrup, has the greatest sugar content and the least viscosity of the three types. Dark molasses has less sugar and a more opaque color. Black strap molasses has very little sugar and a bitter taste but contains the greatest amount of vitamins and minerals.