· 3 min read · By GN Costa Açucareira
Demerara and raw cane sugars such as VHP are both made from sugarcane and keep some molasses, but they serve different buyers. Demerara is a partially refined sugar with large golden crystals sold for direct consumption, while VHP is a raw sugar produced mainly as feedstock for refineries.
Key differences
The table-level differences buyers ask about most:
- Use: demerara for consumer and specialty food brands; VHP for refining.
- Appearance: demerara has golden, crunchy crystals; VHP is darker and stickier.
- Processing: demerara is lightly processed for eating; VHP is not intended for direct retail use.
- Buyers: specialty brands and distributors (demerara) vs refineries and industry (VHP).
Which should you buy?
If you sell sugar to consumers or use it as a visible ingredient, demerara is usually the fit. If you operate a refinery or need sugar for further processing, VHP or VVHP is the usual choice. Specifications are always agreed per contract.
