The Iron Kettles of Sugar
The Dire Side of Sugar In 18th-century Barbados, sugar was made in cast-iron syrup kettles, a method later adopted in the American South. Sugarcane was squashed utilizing wind and animal-powered mills. The drawn out juice was heated, clarified, and evaporated in a series of pots of reducing size to make crystallized sugar. The Bitter Sweet Country: Barbados Sugar Production. Barbados, frequently called the "Gem of the Caribbean," owes much of its historical prominence to one commodity: sugar. This golden crop transformed the island from a little colonial station into a powerhouse of the worldwide economy throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Yet, the sweet success of sugar was built on a structure of enslaved labour, a truth that casts a shadow over its legacy. The Hidden Dangers Of Sugar In the glare of Barbados' sun-soaked shores and vibrant greenery lies a darker tale of durability and challenge-- the unsafe labour behind its once-thriving sugar economy. Central to...