Steen's cane syrup is a traditional American sweetener made by the simple concentration of cane juice through long cooking in open kettles. The result is a dark, "caramel–flavored, burnt gold–colored syrup," "deep and slightly sulfurous" with a "lightly bitter backlash."Leah Koenig, "One Ingredient, Many Ways: Cane Syrup", Saveur, Apr 27, 2012. It is sweeter than molasses because no refined sugar is removed from the product.Julia Moskin and Kim Severson, "The Old-Fashioned Secret of Holiday Treats? Sugar Cane.", The New York Times, December 13, 2006.
Steen's syrup has been made since 1910 in Abbeville, Louisiana, by C. S. Steen's Syrup Mill, Inc. Its packaging is marked by a bright yellow label."Les Vieux Temps", Crowley Post-Signal, September 16, 2008. Steen's has been called a "Southern icon" and essential for "sweet Southern dishes"."Steen's Cane Syrup", Bon Appétit, February 7, 2011. While Steen's is the best known remaining producer of unrefined cane syrup, a few other manufacturers can be found elsewhere in the South."Cane Syrup Makes A Comeback, With Help From UF", University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, October 5, 2001.
Traditional cane syrup has been called "one of the basic flavors of southern Louisiana." The syrup, and Steen's manufacturing process, are described by Slow Food USA in their Ark of Taste as an endangered slow food product.Ark of Taste: Traditional Cane Syrup, Slow Food USA (accessed 2014-01-21).
See also Golden syrup List of syrups Treacle
References
External links C. S. Steen's Syrup Mill, Inc. Steen's Cane Syrup at eatTheseWords.com (via archive.org)