[DanaC]

This is another one of those “minefield” ingredients. Strictly speaking, Treacle is the British generic name for any syrup made during the refining of sugar cane. Therefore, theoretically, Treacle, Black Treacle, Molasses, Golden Syrup and Blackstrap are all treacles.



In practice however, there is a technical difference between “treacle” and “Molasses” in that molasses is obtained from the drainings of raw sugar during the refining process and treacle is made from the syrup obtained from the sugar.



In an effort to simplify matters, rather than start with the history of treacle, as with most of the Ingredient of the Month features, we are going to start with how the various treacles are obtained. The various types of treacle and Molasses are, in culinary terms, completely substitutable. Only the type of treacle/molasses used is of any importance when cooking.