Blackstrap Molasses - 400g - Organic Times

The most concentrated and nutritious form of molasses.

Made from the third and final boiling of the sugar cane syrup.

• certified organic
• free from GMOs
• palm-oil free
• vegan friendly
• gluten free

Blackstrap molasses is more bitter than regular molasses and with a more robust flavour. So, be mindful of substituting it 1:1 in your recipes. The strong flavour may be too bitter for your tastebuds. We love the pronounced taste! Great in savoury dishes, as the bitterness of it is balanced by the sweetness in the recipe. Make your own baked beans, barbeque sauce, teriyaki marinade, etc. Alternatively, play with some sweeter treats such as gingerbread, bliss balls, smoothies, biscuits, etc.

What is Molasses?

Molasses is a dark, sticky syrup — the by-product of the sugar production process. During this process, the maximum sugar is boiled out of the sugarcane to create sugar crystals for the various refined sugars. The sugar crystals consist mostly of sucrose and they’re left with no nutrients, as all the nutrients concentrate into the molasses as the syrup is cooked down. It is then produced in three stages: light, dark, and ultimately blackstrap molasses — the most nutritious of the sugars. It is the syrup produced after the third-boiling of the sugar syrup.

We believe ours is best: certified organic, unsulphured, no GMOs, high quality.

Organic Times Blackstrap Molasses is made from mature sugarcane that’s grown without the use of harmful synthetic pesticides or fertilisers. Waiting for the sugarcane to mature enables it to be preservative-free (as opposed to molasses made by a faster process where younger cane is used therefore sulphur dioxide gets added as a preservative). Organic production also means no GMOs are used, unlike other varieties on the market.

We have sampled quite a few different products and ours is simply the best. In lab tests among other similar products, our molasses has been recorded with the highest nutritional content overall. We are now known by our manufacturing customers to provide the best around due to its proven quality as both a stand-alone nutritional additive, and an ingredient in produced goods.

Where does molasses come from?

History, origin, country, cultures

‘Molasses’ is derived from 16th century Portuguese word ‘melaços’, and from Late Latin ‘mellacium ’ meaning ‘must’, and from Latin ‘mel’ meaning ‘honey’. ‘Blackstrap’ is a term derived from the Dutch word ‘stroop’ meaning syrup.

Sugarcane was originally grown in south-eastern Asia and the Pacific for chewing! According to the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, who have an extensive economic botany collection, sugarcane may have originated in New Guinea as far back as 6000 BC. The rind was simply removed then they sucked the juice and chewed the cane.

The process of making sugar by boiling cane juice first took place in India around 500 / 1,000 BC. It then took quite some time longer to spread to the rest of the world. Columbus reportedly introduced sugarcane to the West Indies around the 16th century, then consequently the West Indians produced molasses that the opportunistic Columbus traded back to the colonies. Molasses became an important product in Colonial trade. At the time, it was predominantly used for making rum, as well as beer, baked beans, brown bread, pudding, pie, for curing meats and pickling fish, and for medicinal purposes. Apparently, the founders of Georgia used molasses as a reward to entice settlers there!

An interesting fact: in 1919, a wave of molasses syrup, more devastating than a tsunami, flooded the streets of Boston when a molasses tank exploded! If you’re up for an interesting read, there’s a book ‘Dark Tide’ by Stephen Puleo.

Fast-forward a few centuries, and the use of blackstrap molasses was re-popularised during the health-food movement of the mid-20th century and continues to be used today.

What are the health benefits?

Blackstrap molasses is a healthier alternative to processed sugar as it has a moderate GI of 55 plus it has the highest number of antioxidants compared to refined sugars. It is a good source of iron and also contains several other minerals and vitamins such as calcium, copper, magnesium, manganese, selenium, potassium, vitamin B6 and niacin. In time gone by, a spoonful was a remedy for an upset stomach and a general system cleanser!

Use sugary drinks and sweets sparingly as per the Healthy Eating Pyramid. Organic, blackstrap molasses — is a healthier sweetener, such as rapadura, compared to white crystallised and other refined sugars including brown sugar, etc. It’s about wholefoods and a balanced, sensible diet. Wholefoods meaning least processed. Molasses is okay for us in moderation and a good source of iron especially for vegans and anaemics but there are other especially good sources of iron too.

What does it taste like?

Blackstrap is significantly more bitter than regular molasses, with a robust flavour. Unsulphured molasses is the choice, as the sulphuring influences the flavour and leaves it with a distinct chemical taste and is less sweet.

Be mindful of substituting it 1:1 in your recipes, as the strong flavour may be too bitter for your tastebuds. We love the pronounced taste, but you may find it over-powering. Think of it like rich, dark chocolate. It suits recipes that require a dark, earthy, bittersweet element. Have some fun and get familiar with it; you can experiment by balancing it with other natural sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup or rapadura sugar.

How to use:

Blackstrap molasses is great in savoury dishes, as the bitterness of it is balanced by the sweetness in the recipe. You can try making your own baked beans, barbeque sauce, teriyaki marinade, etc. Alternatively, play with some sweeter treats such as gingerbread, raisin-almond bliss balls, smoothies, biscuits, etc.

We recently seen our very own Molasses used in 2016’s Masterchef. It was used for making onion jam to accompany kofta skewers.

Add Molasses to your diet by using it in sweet and savoury recipes.

Ingredients: *Whole Cane Sugar.

*Ingredients certified organic. No use of GMOs.

Nutrition Information

About the Company

When you think Organic Times, think certified organic and delicious!

Organic Times is an ethically driven, food loving, Australian-owned family business based in Melbourne, Victoria, in operation since 1999. We provide an extensive selection of only the best certified organic products available including:

• Fair trade couverture chocolate
• Artisan cookies
• Feel good confectionery
• Ethically sourced pantry staples
• Grass-fed butter, ghee and milk powder

Being certified organic means all our products are grown and produced without using synthetic chemicals (such as pesticides and artificial fertilisers), no GMOs, no exposure to irradiation. Animal welfare and environmental sustainability are also priorities.

Know that when you are choosing Organic Times, you will receive premium products that we stand by and love. Outside of being 100% certified organic, they are crafted using only the finest ingredients, made without palm-oil and hand-packed by our team with care.

Our brand is for the ethically and environmentally conscious consumer, family and business who seek great tasting wholesome food products that doesn’t compromise their health or our planet.

We source Australian and international organic ingredients from ethical farmers and partners who share the same standards and beliefs as us. These strong and established relationships have been built over time with hard-work, respect and loyalty.

Supported by our team and family of dedicated and customer focused staff, our operations include manufacturing, contract manufacturing, ingredient sourcing, wholesale distribution and an information rich website and online store.

Our History

Organic Times was established in 1999 by two close-knit cousins, Lawrence and KC, back in a time when organic products were only found in health-food stores or the health-food aisle of the supermarket.

Growing up in the inner city of Melbourne, they spent most of their youth at the Queen Victoria Market and their family speciality grocery stores, where they both developed a strong sense of family and love of quality food.

In adulthood, focused on ethical business and sustainability, they worked in senior positions for a leading Australia Health Food company, which gained them insight into the health industry and the benefits and necessity of eating organic foods.

With this knowledge and their passion for tasty food, it only seemed natural for them to venture out on their own and create a trusted household brand known for making organic products for everyday people just like us, for foodies who are mindful of the environment and good health, but also see food as one of life’s greatest pleasure, where taste and flavour are also paramount.

Our Mission

We dreamt of bringing a more natural, organic alternative to the confectionary market. With just enough capital and loads of passion, that dream came true.

That was back in '99 and ever since it has been our mission to provide you a high-quality, better-for-you version of your favourite staples and indulgent goodies. We all enjoy a sweet treat from time-to-time, and we want you to enjoy the simple pleasures of food without harmful chemicals, GMOs and artificial preservatives and additives.

We believe in building lasting relationships whilst engaging in environmentally sustainable practices. The farmers we work with, both locally and our international fair-trade partners, care about natural cycles and use true, sustainable farming methods to work in harmony with nature.

Organic agriculture and production is not just healthy for you, it’s vital and environmentally beneficial to the natural eco-system of our planet.

Take a look at our ethical, sustainable, natural and delicious range!