What Sugars Are in Molasses?

Molasses is created by refining sugarcane juice. As sugar crystals are removed, what remains is a dark, mineral-rich syrup. Although molasses composition varies slightly by harvest, the average breakdown per 100g looks like this:

• Total Sugar: roughly 55–60%
• Sucrose: about 30–35%
• Glucose: about 10–15%
• Fructose: about 10–15%
• Total Carbohydrates: about 75g

Compared to refined sugar, molasses is not just sugar. It retains nutrients that are removed during the refinement of table sugar.

How Molasses Compares to Other Sweeteners

Other sweeteners differ in sugar type, nutrient content, and how they affect energy levels.

All numbers are general numbers!

• Molasses (general): Around 55–60% sugar. High in minerals such as iron, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
• Honey: Around 82% sugar. Contains small traces of nutrients but is mostly fructose and glucose.
• Maple Syrup: Around 68% sugar. Contains manganese and zinc but fewer minerals than molasses.
• Agave Syrup: 76–85% sugar and very high in fructose. Very little nutritional value beyond sweetness.
• Table Sugar: Roughly 99.8% sugar with no mineral content.
• Date Syrup: Around 75% sugar. Contains potassium and antioxidants but still higher in sugar than molasses.

Molasses delivers sweetness with lower total sugar content per gram compared to most alternatives.

Why Molasses Stands Out

1. Nutrient Density

Molasses is one of the only sweeteners that contains meaningful levels of iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and antioxidants.

2. Lower Sugar Concentration

Gram for gram, molasses contains less sugar than honey, agave, maple syrup, and table sugar.

3. More Balanced Energy Release

Molasses tends to enter the bloodstream more gradually than refined sugar due to mineral presence and lower sugar concentration.

4. Heat Stability

The flavor and structure of molasses hold up under cooking better than honey or some syrups, making it ideal for baking, marinades, sauces, and even endurance fuel.

5. Flavor Depth

Molasses adds richness, caramel notes, and bold character rather than just sweetness.

Why People Are Returning to Molasses

As consumers become more health-conscious, they are looking for sweeteners that offer more than sweetness alone. Molasses provides minerals, antioxidants, flavor complexity, and slower-burning energy.

Rather than being just another source of sugar, molasses is both a sweetener and a functional food ingredient.

This breakdown refers to molasses in general, not a specific brand or bottle.