22 a Source: USDA Handbook No. 8. b From salarium,“ money given to Roman soldiers to buy salt.” c When the cane juice is simply boiled down by natural means, as during the making of maple syrup, the result is a heavy, sticky brown sugar with a fair amount of molasses left in it. This natural sugar is not as deleterious as the refined white stuff; however, it is often contaminated with sand, earth, mold, and bacteria. It is also hard to buy in the United States. The“ brown” sugars sold in this country are simply white sugar with some molasses added back in.