muscovado

[ muhs-kuh-vey-doh, -vah- ]

noun

1. raw or unrefined sugar, obtained from the juice of the sugarcane by evaporating and draining off the molasses.

muscovado

/ ˌmʌskəˈvɑːdəʊ /

noun

1. raw sugar obtained from the juice of sugar cane by evaporating the molasses

Word History and Origins

Origin of muscovado¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Spanish (azúcar) mascabado or directly from Portuguese (açúcar) mascavado, past participle of mascavar “to separate raw sugar,” earlier meoscabar, reduced form of menoscabar “to belittle, detract from,” cognate with Spanish menoscabar “to diminish, reduce,” from unattested Vulgar Latin minuscapāre, equivalent to Latin minus “smaller, less” ( minus ) + unattested Vulgar Latin -capāre, derivative of unattested capum, for Latin caput “head”; achieve, mischief

Word History and Origins

Origin of muscovado¹

C17: from Portuguese açúcar mascavado separated sugar; mascavado from mascavar to separate, probably from Latin

Example Sentences

For example, he wants to make a granita with barako coffee, which is grown there, and pair it with muscovado jelly and leche flan ice cream.

From Seattle Times

For example, he wants to make a granita with barako coffee, which is grown there, and pair it with muscovado jelly and leche flan ice cream.

From Washington Times

The dessert, as best as Livingston remembers it, featured a creamy koji mousse with a paste of green herbs and a spread that combined muscovado sugar with foraged Danish wood ants.

From Washington Post

While brown sugar has had its natural molasses removed during the refining process and then added back into it in a lesser amount, muscovado sugar is unrefined and retains its natural molasses, lending an earthier note.

From Salon

Muscovado sugar remains tricky to find stateside, and is mostly available in specialty shops and online.

From Salon