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๐พ Agriculture & Crops
Sugar & Sugarcane
Sugarcane originated in New Guinea ~8,000 BC; sugar refining began in India around 500 BC
India ๐ฎ๐ณ 500 BC Agriculture & Crops
Key Facts
- 1
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) originated in New Guinea; India first refined crystalline sugar ~350 AD
- 2
Arab traders spread sugar westward; Europeans called it "white gold" โ drove the Atlantic slave trade
- 3
India is world's 2nd largest sugar producer; Brazil is #1; global production: 185 million tonnes/year
๐ Did you know? The word "sugar" comes from Sanskrit "sharkara"; India invented the process of crystallising sugar around 350 AD
Quick Reference
Category
Agriculture & Crops
Origin
๐ฎ๐ณ India
Year / Era
500 BC
About
Sugarcane originated in New Guinea ~8,000 BC