Leafing through old magazines, sometimes you come across amazing illustrations. Today, not every one of our contemporaries will say what a "sugar loaf" is. And here, please, here it is - in all its glory.

On the engraving, these same sugar heads. One is a giant, created for advertising purposes, and around it are ordinary ones, for shops and stores. This composition was placed at the Manufactory Exhibition of 1870 in St. Petersburg.

For the first time, industrial sugar appeared in the form of a “head”. Historians claim that the production of sugar in the form of conical heads was already carried out in Venice at the end of the 10th century.

"Sugar heads" were prepared as follows: cane sugar, purified from impurities by refining, turned into a thick syrup (mass mass). This syrup is hot (98-99°C)poured into special cone-shaped molds with a small hole in the bottom to remove excess liquid. The molds were then left for several weeks to dry and crystallize.

The result was a snow-white ingot, shaped like an artillery shell. This ingot was called the sugar loaf. The sugar loaf had the shape of a cylinder. One end of the cylinder was flat, and a sugar loaf could be placed on this end. The other end of the cylinder had a pointed shape. The sugar loaf, removed from the mold, was wrapped in a special thick blue paper, which was called sugar paper.

The Persians used bamboo sticks to dry sugar. The Egyptians are glass molds, while the Chinese are ceramic. Europeans long years they took wooden structures as assistants, and later switched to clay ones. However, all these materials are quite fragile. Therefore, already at the very beginning of the industrialization of sugar production, they were replaced by zinc and steel. Each form had a lock. With its help, the form was easily opened, and the sugar head, after hardening, was easily removed.

Sugar loaves were made in different sizes, andweighed between 5 and 15 kilograms. Of course, this volume was much more than what ordinary consumers demanded. Yes, and the price "bite". Sellers had to break the sugar into small pieces. The hardest thing was with 15-kg giants. Soon, however, sugar heads began to be cut into pieces in an industrial way. This made it easier for both buyers and sellers.

Crushing with a centrifuge began to be used around 1900. This method allowed the massecuite to dry even faster. Drying took place not in the room, but in a centrifuge. At the end, the sugar was taken out of the molds and packaged.

Sugarloaf production ceased in Denmark and Sweden around 1940. At about the same time, fine loose sugar familiar to us appeared. Merchants continued to sell sugar by weight until 1955. And then 2-kg packages appeared in stores.

Today, sugar heads are mainly distributed in the Arab countries, they are still produced in Belgium. They can be stored for an arbitrarily long time - truly eternal sugar. The base of the "head" (lower two-thirds) is traditionally wrapped in blue paper, always of the same color and density - blue-gray was once even called the color of sugar paper. Sugar loaf 20 cm high was last sold in our country in 1967 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution.

In some places, sugar heads are still sold. Only they weigh a maximum of 250 g, and they are imported from Germany.

In the store, large heads were cut or sawn into smaller pieces and sold by weight. Such sugar was called chopped and sawn. Smaller sugar heads were sold whole, and already at home, they were cut with a special cleaver, smaller pieces were split, and then they “bite off” the pieces with such sugar tongs.

After that, a large piece of sugar was placed on the palm and beaten on it with the butt of a knife.

A huge number of devices were invented and used for splitting sugar heads: from tongs and axes, to special guillatins. Many examples of which are now kept in various sugar museums around the world.

The form of "sugar loaves" in the Middle Ages was used in the manufacture of a transitional form of knightly helmets, which were called just like sugar loaves. And in Crimea, Sugar Loaf Rock is a small coral reef on the outskirts of Sudak. Resembling a frozen lump of sugar, the mountain was chosen by climbers and filmmakers. It was here that scenes from the movie "The Master and Margarita" were filmed. So the use of "sugar heads" in the everyday life of many peoples of the world has also moved to other areas of people's lives.

The use of crushed lump sugar has become part of the tradition of tea drinking in many peoples of the world. So the inhabitants of the Frisian islands, according to tradition, put a piece of crushed sugar at the bottom of the cup, pour tea, and add a spoonful of cream on top. In Russia, lump sugar is consumed with a cup of tea... But that's a completely different story.

You can buy crushed lump sugar in our store:

-Cane crushed sugar ;

When writing the article, materials from the sites were used:

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Gertrud Helgesson from the Arlö Sugar Museum and Erik Jørgensen from the Nakskov Sugar Museum

www.dansukker.ru

www.toyota-club.net

www.glaskilian.de

www.p-syutkin.livejournal.com/263071

www.thesugargirls.com

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Description of attractions by category of interest

The most popular tourist places Must see w

Mount Sugarloaf is amazing place, followed by the countless white sandy beaches of Rio de Janeiro. It is impossible to confuse the outlines of one of the main attractions of Rio - the Sugarloaf. The height of the Sugarloaf is only 396 meters. The easiest and most popular way to get to its top is to take a trip on the funicular, which opened here in 1912. During the first part of the journey to the Sugarloaf, it usually consists of one stop. It takes place at about 220 meters on a plateau known as Moru da Urca. It houses a large amphitheater, restaurants and souvenir shops. Today, Sugar Loaf Mountain is a favorite place for tourists and visitors to the city.

Spectacular views w

Sugar Loaf is the highest point in the city, and the view that opens from the panoramic platform of the mountain is considered the most beautiful view of Rio de Janeiro. From a bird's eye view in front of you - the snow-white beach of Praia Vermelha, the azure of the Atlantic Ocean, the romance of the sea surf, the quarters of Brazilian skyscrapers and green mountains. The panoramas are so beautiful that they may seem unreal. During the final stop at the top of the mountain, the beaches of Lemme, Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and Flamengo, Mount Corcovado and the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, the green areas of Tijuca Park, the entire city center, Santos Dumont Airport, the unsurpassedly beautiful bay of Guanabara, appear before you in all their glory, the Rio-Niteroi bridge, and other charms that make tourists love Rio and Sugarloaf Mountain.

Human and nature r

The peak overlooking Guanabara Bay in the eastern part of Rio is one of the main attractions of the city. Because of his unusual shape, which the Brazilians compare to a lump of sugar, she received the name "Sugar Loaf". The origin of the shape of the mountain is associated with the weathering of intrusive igneous rocks that appeared on earth's surface. There is practically no vegetation on the slopes. The first officially certified ascent to the summit was made by the English children's nurse Henrietta Carstairs, who in 1817 hoisted the British flag on the top of the mountain. In 1903, the government adopted a special decree, according to which a cable car was to be built to the Sugar Loaf, which was opened in 1912. Now travelers do not have to climb up the steep cliffs, as it was in past centuries, they climb the Sugar Loaf in cozy funiculars. At the top of the Sugarloaf, even on a hot day, it is cool and fresh. That is why there is nothing here but wonderful views of Rio de Janeiro.

Sugar Loaf - a series of hills located on the peninsula of Urca, consists of the rock Sugar Loaf (which gave the name to the complex) and Mount Babylon. Sugar Loaf Mountain, along with the statue of Christ the Savior, is the "face" of the city of Rio de Janeiro and one of the most famous places Brazil. The unique natural features that surround it in the waters of Guanabara Bay make this place attractive to tourists.

As an added bonus, a trip to the top is offered. cable car linking Praia Vermelha and Moro da Urca with the Sugar Loaf. The route and design of the lift was developed in 1908 and opened in 1912, becoming the first lift installed in the country and the third in the world. For more than ninety years of its existence, it has transported about thirty million people. The last cable car station offers panoramic views of the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Pan de Azucar - the highest rock of the complex - consists of a solid granite-gneiss block more than six hundred million years old, which arose during the separation of the South American continent and Africa. Its height is 395 meters above sea level. It is rich in various plant species, several endemic species of bromeliads and orchids grow here. The southern slope is covered with an almost continuous vegetative carpet, making a striking contrast with the poor flora of the northern side. The bottom is surrounded by the remnants of the Atlantic forest, at the top is the last cable car station.

The name of the mountain is associated with the production of sugar from cane, when the product was packaged into pieces of a similar shape for transportation. Another version says that the name in the native languages ​​\u200b\u200bwas Pau-nh-acuqua and was translated as "high hill".

In addition to a mechanical lift, you can get to the top by one of the 270 climbing routes organized by specialized companies. The first ascent was made along the eastern, most gentle slope, in 1817. Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy and Elton John have visited Sugarloaf. American tightrope walker Stephen McPeak walked along the rope of the lift with a counterweight pole. The top of Pan de Azucar has been the backdrop for several movie scenes.

Of all the places in the world that can surprise tourists, Sugarloaf Mountain occupies one of the leading positions on the list. The area where it is located is so picturesque that it is incredibly difficult to convey all the beauty in words. Why the mountain was named that way, no one knows for sure. There are two working versions:

• From afar, the outline of the hill resembles the shape in which sugar was cast in ancient times.
• The name of the rock was given by local tribes, and its original name came to us through the centuries.

The country in which Mount Sugar Loaf is located is Brazil. The rock is located near the most beautiful and famous city of Rio de Janeiro in these places. It is located in that part of the peninsula where the Guanabara Bay separates the land from the Atlantic Ocean.

A bit of history

Historians have reliable information that in 1565 several Portuguese settlements arose at the foot of the mountain, which united into a tiny village. This village in the future was destined to turn into a modern city, one of the best and most beautiful in the country - Rio de Janeiro. Henrietta Carstairs was the first to officially climb the peak of the rock in 1817 and hoist

In the first decade of the 20th century, the government took up construction, which, despite its considerable age, is still working properly, bringing considerable financial income to the state treasury. Among the local population, the combination of concepts "Sugar Loaf Mountain - Rio" are inseparable. It's practically one piece. Since ancient times, it was believed that the rock is a symbol of protection and guardian of the city.

cable car

Modern equipment, which had to be installed to replace the old one, opens up new opportunities for viewing landscape beauties from a height of 400 m. The road is able to serve 72 passengers in one flight. Despite the fact that the age of the funicular is solid (more than a hundred years), for the entire period of its existence, it has never had an emergency.

Local residents took care of the diversity of recreation for tourists. You can climb to the top of the mountain by a route that links Moro da Urca and Praia Vermelha. As historical facts say, this mechanism was unique in its own way at the time of its creation (1912). It was the first cable car in the country, and the third in the world.

Fun fact: Sugar Loaf Mountain is one of the most visited places in Brazil, and the funicular has to serve up to 30 million travelers a year. The most amazing thing is how the specialists who monitor the condition of the cable car manage to make scheduled repairs with such an influx of tourists.

How to get on the tour

Once in Rio de Janeiro, the first place a traveler should go to is Sugar Loaf Mountain. How to get to this miracle of nature, anyone will tell you: from small to large. The rock is pride local residents and also brings considerable financial replenishment to the budget. Get to the mountain central square cities are very simple. Tourist buses ply the peninsula. In order not to confuse route numbers, it is best to remember or write it down right away. For people living in different parts of the city, the easiest way to get to the center is by taxi, already from the central square you can get to the foot of the cliff by a tourist bus in half an hour.

Excursion cost

There is something to see in Brazil: the famous Niteroi Bridge, Sugar Loaf Mountain. Rio de Janeiro is rich in beautiful and unique places, so the tourist will not be bored here. From a geological point of view, it is impossible to call a quartz-shaped rock a mountain. The sugar loaf is a monolith that arose during the formation of the earth's crust. Its location is most likely a series of fortunate coincidences. From this hill, a beautiful panoramic view of the city, the ocean and the peninsula opens up, and there really is something to see here.

Sugar Loaf Mountain is 396 m high. You can climb this hill by cable car. For children under six years old, the funicular ride is free. Older children will have to pay 26 USD for the tour, but for adults it will cost twice as much. Tickets are sold at special ticket offices in the central square of the city and at the foot of the mountain, however, the queue will have to stand rather big.

What else to see in Rio de Janeiro

Millions of travelers come to Brazil every year, and during the carnival period, the number of tourists increases several times. Crowds of onlookers from different countries just dumbfounded by the action that is happening on the streets of the city. best place for viewing Rio is Sugar Loaf Mountain, or rather, plastic transparent booths that slowly rise up and then just as slowly fall.

But there are other places on the funicular route:

• Praia Vermelha, or Red Beach. Actually, this is a translation of the name of a small town, next to which there is a beach for vacationers. The views that open from the height of a bird's flight are simply amazing. Landscapes appear before the tourist: the incredible whiteness of the beach sand and the blueness of the ocean. This can only be seen on the cover of eminent glossy publications.
• Mount Urka (220 m). Although the elevation is inferior in height to the Sugar Loaf, there is still something to see. Landscapes will leave indelible impressions for the rest of your life. It is here that an amphitheater has been set up, where a variety of entertainment shows are arranged, preparations for carnivals are held, and dance programs are shown.

What to bring

Brazil is a country of contrasts and bright colors, what and whom you will not see here. I want to take a good look at everything and take a picture. For convenience, it is best to have a backpack: you can put all the necessary things in it to free your hands for a video camera or camera. If at the same time your equipment has good optics, there is no doubt that in the pictures you can see everything to the smallest detail.

You can also rent good optics: a telescope or binoculars. They will help you find the objects you need to take pictures. Make sure the batteries are charged and have a spare set of batteries with you. Take care of an internal drive (flash drive) with a good amount of memory. In addition to documents and a certain amount of money, you need to prepare a couple of sandwiches: for yourself and the children - fresh air and adrenaline will make you feel hungry.

Leafing through old magazines, sometimes you come across amazing illustrations. Today, not every one of our contemporaries will say what a "sugar loaf" is. And here, please, here it is - in all its glory:

In general, sugar is a very old product for us. The first mention of it dates back to the 11th century. To prepare kutia, it is written in the “Inquiry” of Kirik (hieromonk and domestic of the Novgorod Antoniev Monastery) to Bishop Nifont of Novgorod (1129-1156), “take three parts of boiled wheat, and the fourth - peas, beans and sochevitsa, also boiled, season with honey and sugar ». Initially, sugar was delivered, most likely, from Constantinople, later (in the 15th century) through the Black Sea region from the Genoese. In the XVI-XVII centuries - from Germany through Poland and Lithuania. And since the XVIII century - through St. Petersburg from all over Europe.

Sugar was brought as spices, sold expensively. And not everyone could afford it. In Russia, for example, drinking tea with sugar has become a common habit only since the 18th century. That old sugar was made, of course, from imported cane. Peter I tried to curb foreign merchants and ordered to make sugar in Russia. A decree of March 14, 1718 ordered the Moscow merchant Pavel Vestov to open a sugar factory in Moscow on favorable terms. Vestov was obliged to produce a product from imported raw materials, "in quality and taste no worse than imported and at a price lower than overseas." In the event that the plant "multiplies", the emperor promised to completely ban the import of finished sugar into the country. On April 28, 1721, Peter I kept his promise by issuing a decree "On the prohibition of the import of sugar into Russia", which did not apply only to granulated sugar.

In 1718, he even established a sugar chamber. In fairness, it should be noted that the name "sugar chamber" existed in Russia before. Thus, the historian Ivan Zabelin mentions the existence of a “sugar or vegetable chamber that produced and sold sugars, spicy potions, dried and sugared fruits” in the Khlebenny Palace in the royal chambers of the 17th century. True, unlike Peter the Great, then it was only one of the branches of the palace kitchen.

However, at that time sugar was made from imported sugar cane. Beets as a raw material began to be used much later. The basis for this was the discovery of the German chemist Andreas Marggraf, who in 1747 proved that sugar is contained in significant amounts in beets. At the same time, it turned out that it is not inferior in taste to cane. According to the scientist's research, fodder beets contained about 1.3% sugar. Marggraf's student, Franz-Karl Ashar (Achard), continued his research and even achieved state support in the person of King Frederick William III, who gave him 50 thousand thalers for further experiments. With this money, in 1802, in his own estate in Lower Silesia, Ashar opened a sugar beet processing plant.

The inexhaustible theme of the birthright of Russian science and discoveries has received a natural continuation in this matter. The fact is that the first experiments in the field of sugar beet processing appear in this period in our country. A native of Livonia, Major General Georg (Egor) Blankenagel became interested in this problem, and most importantly, managed to interest the Russian authorities in it. The journal Otechestvennye Zapiski (T.VIII, St. Petersburg, 1840, p. 94) even names its article about Blankenagel's experiments in an unambiguous way - "Evidence that the honor of the original production of sugar from sugar beets belongs to Russia."

Unfortunately, the wars that soon broke out in Europe and Russia interrupted the experiments of both Ashar and Blankenagel. And the production of sugar from beets resumed only in the 1820s. And in 1840 in Russia there were 164 factories owned by Blankenagel's successors Gerard and Maltsev, landowners Bakhmetiev, Davydov, Neitgardt