Sugarcane is perennial grass primarily cultivated for its juice from which sugar is processed. On a hot summer day, sugarcane juice is undoubtedly one of the best ways to quench your thirst & beat the extreme heat.
However, the fruit is not just responsible for satisfying your thirst, it has got carbohydrates, protein, vitamins (A, B-complex, and C) and also contains good amounts of minerals like phosphorus, calcium, potassium, zinc, and iron which helps to stay healthy.
Belonging to the grass family, sugarcane is easy to grow anywhere and is available almost everywhere. Even though it is native to Papua New Guinea, it has become a part of the crop production of more than half of the world, including Asia and America.
Here are some fun facts about the fruit which might interest you.
- Sugarcane has no fats. It is, in fact, a 100% natural drink. It has about 30 grams of natural sugar. Hence, you do not have to add extra sugar for sweetness.
- It is a grass plant of the genus Saccharum and has 36 varieties.
- In 1493, Christopher Columbus took sugarcane to the Caribbean to plant it there, and thus, the cultivation of sugarcane spread across the world.
- A mature sugarcane plant can grow up to 30 feet tall. A single sugarcane plant can take 9-24 months to become mature, depending on the climate.
- Sugar extracted from sugarcane juice contains only 15 calories.
- Sugarcane juice is a mix of sucrose, fructose, and many other glucose varieties. Hence, it tastes sweet.
- An 8-ounce serving of sugarcane juice without any additives carries a total of 180 calories, which is quite low.
- Raw sugarcane juice contains a total of 13 grams of dietary fiber per serving, which is essential in carrying out a lot of body functions.