whats the difference?

canadian.bud21

Active Member
Lol since I got no replies on my grow thead. Thought I'd start this one... What's the difference between "black-strap" and regular mollasses? I don't have the black strap stuff, is it still okay to use? Says its 100% natural. Thanks :leaf:
 

jawbrodt

Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure that "Black Strap" is just the brand name, and has nothing to do with the type. Just make sure it says "unsulphured" on the bottle, and it'll work just fine. :)
 
Lol since I got no replies on my grow thead. Thought I'd start this one... What's the difference between "black-strap" and regular mollasses? I don't have the black strap stuff, is it still okay to use? Says its 100% natural. Thanks :leaf:
There are a few kinds of molasses, according to some research I did.

The three types of molasses are:
Light Molasses:
This first type is known as light molasses which comes from the first boiling of the caramel colored liquid. It has the lightest and sweetest flavor of the different types of molasses. It has a light golden color.
Dark Molasses:
The second boiling of the syrup creates dark molasses. It is darker and thicker than light molasses. Dark molasses is the traditional ingredient in gingerbread and Boston baked beans.
Blackstrap Molasses:
Blackstrap molasses comes from the third and final boiling. It is think and very dark in color. The taste of blackstrap molasses is very bitter. It is usually found in health food stores. Many people believe that it has health benefits. However, it is bitter and should not be used as a substitute for regular molasses in recipes.
But really, don't use the Molasses - it's crappy when you're growing. All it does is make things stickier - no pun intended.

You need to use items like Advanced Nutrients or other companies make. Molasses is really not for anyone who wants to bulk up their plants. All that does is make sure that you are spending far too much time fixing things that you don't have time to fix.

I've seen too many grows go bad over using molasses.

:sad:
 

mrbunny

Well-Known Member
Can't tell you to use it or not, I'm a total noob to growing pot. Everything I've read here says blackstrap is the shizznit, but the other types are ok to use, as long as it's UNSULPHERED. Blackstrap has more nutrients in it, whether it's good for plants or not I can't say. I'm gonna try it...my 1st grow is an experiment anyway.





From wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molasses#Cane_molasses

"Sulphured molasses is made from young sugar cane. Sulphur dioxide, which acts as a preservative, is added during the sugar extraction process. Unsulphured molasses is made from mature sugar cane, which does not require treatment with sulphur. There are three grades of molasses: mild or barbados, also known as first molasses; dark, or second molasses; and blackstrap. These grades may be sulphured or unsulphured.


To make molasses, the sugar cane plant is harvested and stripped of its leaves. Its juice is extracted from the canes, usually by crushing or mashing; it can also be removed by cutting. The juice is boiled to concentrate it, which promotes the crystallization of the sugar. The result of this first boiling and removal of the sugar crystals is first molasses, which has the highest sugar content because comparatively little sugar has been extracted from the source. Second molasses is created from a second boiling and sugar extraction, and has a slight bitter tinge to its taste.


The third boiling of the sugar syrup makes blackstrap molasses. The majority of sucrose from the original juice has been crystallized, but blackstrap molasses is still mostly sugar by calories. However, unlike refined sugars, it contains significant amounts of vitamins and minerals. Blackstrap molasses is a source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron; one tablespoon provides up to 20% of the daily value of each of those nutrients. Blackstrap, often sold as a health supplement, is also used in the manufacture of cattle feed and for other industrial uses.


  • Molasses can also be added to the soil of almost any plant to promote microbial activity.
  • Blackstrap molasses is often used in horticulture as a flower blooming and fruiting enhancer, particularly in organic hydroponics."
 

canadian.bud21

Active Member
well i used it my last grow and didnt come across any problems. used a very small amount cause i dont know if its okay to use. the Nutritional Value is close tho.
Per 1 tbsp (20g)
Calories - 60
Sodium - 10mg
Potassium - 170mg / 5%
Carbohydrate - 15g / 5%
Sugars - 12g
Calcium - 2%
iron - 6%
Vitamin B6 - 2%
Magnesium - 4%
Copper - 2%

No preservatives, 100% natural, pure sugar cane juice

anyone know if its usable?
 

canadian.bud21

Active Member
well i used it my last grow and didnt come across any problems. used a very small amount cause i dont know if its okay to use. the Nutritional Value is close tho.
Per 1 tbsp (20g)
Calories - 60
Sodium - 10mg
Potassium - 170mg / 5%
Carbohydrate - 15g / 5%
Sugars - 12g
Calcium - 2%
iron - 6%
Vitamin B6 - 2%
Magnesium - 4%
Copper - 2%

No preservatives, 100% natural, pure sugar cane juice

anyone know if its usable?
bumping this.... ???
 

DevilishlyKatt

Active Member
Here, this might help... I've always heard that you want unsulphured and blackstrap is a bit different.

There are three major types of sugar cane molasses: unsulphured, sulphured and blackstrap. There are also three major grades of cane molasses: first molasses, second molasses, and blackstrap molasses. When sugar cane is harvested, the leaves are stripped, the juice extracted by crushing or mashing, and then boiled and processed to extract the sugar. The results of the first boiling and processing is first molasses – this has the highest sugar content. The results of the second boiling is second molasses. Second molasses is darker in colour and has a slightly bitter taste. Black strap molasses is from the third boiling.
Unsulphured molasses is the finest quality first molasses and is made from the juice of sun-ripened cane and the juice is clarified and concentrated. Sulphured molasses is made from green sugar cane that has not matured long enough and is treated with sulphur fumes during the sugar extracting process.
There are a number of different types and sources of molasses and some have already had the maximum amount of sugar removed and will therefore not be sweet. There are two main types of organic molasses: HTM (High Test Mollases) and Black Strap Molasses.
HTM is a sweet syrup with a high brix content of 80-84 percent. [Brix is a term originally used for pure sucrose solutions to indicate the percentage of sucrose in the solution on a weight basis. Molasses contains, glucose, fructose, raffinose and numerous non-sugar organic materials, as well as sucrose. Therefore the Brix value for molasses will often differ dramatically from actual sugar or total solid content. It really represents specific gravity.] The high-test molasses is a heavy, partially inverted cane syrup (no sugar removed), however molasses is a term generally used to designate material from which sugar has been removed.
Sugar Cane

Organic Blackstrap molasses has a rich, full bodied flavour that adds natural colour to food. It is the end product, or by-product, of the production of sugar and contains vitamins, minerals and trace elements naturally found in the sugar cane plant and is a good source of iron, vitamin B6, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Because it is an end-product all the ingredients, residues, and toxins in the plant can be concentrated in the molasses. For this reason it is important to purchase organic molasses.


http://www.organicfooddirectory.com.au/organic-food/sweeteners/organic-molasses.html
 
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