Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c6.s2.t1.51

c6.s2.t1.51

5. *Sugar.*—The cultivation of sugarcane was fairly extensive in Hindustan. Sugar was generally made from sugarcane. The usual process of manufacture was as follows :—They cut the sugarcane into sections, then pressed them in the mill; the juice was then heated in big iron pans until it crystallized into unrefined sugar, when it was either turned into cakes of *Gur*, or with a little more refining made into soft sugar (*khand*). The most refined and esteemed form of sugar was the crystallized white *Qand*.⁵ The manufacture of sugar was carried on on a fairly large scale in Hindustan. In Bengal, sufficient was produced to leave a good surplus for export after local and internal consumption. They packed the sugar for export in parcels of untanned and sewn leather and carried a great store of this to many lands. Besides these varieties of sugar, they manufactured granulated sugar in Bengal and prepared variou candied and preserved fruits.⁶ That sugar was universally used all over the country is shown by numerous descriptions of sweets and sweet dishes and can be gathered from the mention of the sale of sugar and sugared drinks, in contemporary literature. Honey was collected all over the country but was neither commonly used, nor exported.