demerara
LowFormal, culinary
Definition
Meaning
A type of light brown, large-grained, partially refined cane sugar with a distinctive flavour, originally from Guyana.
A specific variety of raw cane sugar known for its large, crunchy crystals and light golden colour. Can also refer to things of a similar colour or nature to this sugar.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a culinary or food industry term. Its use outside of food contexts (e.g., describing a colour) is rare and poetic, typically requiring the word 'sugar' for clarity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is recognized in both varieties. In American English, 'turbinado sugar' is a more common commercial name for a similar product, though not identical.
Connotations
British English: Associated with traditional baking, afternoon tea (for sugar cubes), and 'demerara syrup' in cocktails. American English: Primarily a specialist baking/sweetener term; less culturally embedded.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK culinary contexts. Much lower in general American usage, where 'raw sugar' or 'turbinado' are often preferred.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + demerara: sprinkle, add, mix, dissolve, replace (with)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in food import/export, commodity trading, or product descriptions for specialty foods.
Academic
Rare, potentially in historical, geographical, or food science texts related to the Caribbean sugar trade.
Everyday
In recipes, cooking instructions, or when discussing baking ingredients. Not common in casual conversation.
Technical
In culinary arts, food science, or bartending (for specific syrup types).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The recipe called for demerara sugar cubes.
- He preferred the demerara syrup in his Old Fashioned.
American English
- The bakery uses a demerara-style sugar for its crumble topping.
- She bought demerara sugar for the specific recipe.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I put demerara sugar in my coffee.
- This recipe says you need two spoons of demerara sugar.
- For a better texture, sprinkle some demerara sugar on top before baking the crumble.
- The cocktail's complexity was enhanced by a house-made demerara syrup, which lent a deeper caramel note than simple syrup.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DElicious MEal Requires A Rich, Amber sugar' - DEMERARA. The capital of Guyana is Georgetown, but a famous export is Demerara sugar from the Demerara region.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEMERARA IS AUTHENTICITY/NATURALNESS (vs. highly processed white sugar).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating it as just 'коричневый сахар' (brown sugar). Be specific: 'демерара' is acceptable or describe as 'крупнокристаллический тростниковый сахар демерара'.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'demerera', 'demerarra'. Pronunciation: stressing the first syllable (/ˈdɛmərɑːrə/). Using it interchangeably with moist, dark brown sugar (like muscovado).
Practice
Quiz
What is a key characteristic of demerara sugar?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Standard brown sugar is softer, finer, and often has molasses added back. Demerara has large, dry, crunchy crystals and is less processed.
In some recipes for sweetness, yes, but you will lose the specific texture, colour, and caramel-like flavour that demerara provides.
It comes from the Demerara region (and river) in Guyana, South America, where this type of sugar was originally produced and exported.
Nutritionally, they are very similar. Demerara is slightly less refined, so it retains minute traces of minerals, but the difference is negligible for health. It is chosen for flavour and texture, not health benefits.