黒糖(こくとう)

こくとう
noun
brown sugar; raw cane sugar
1. brown sugar; raw cane sugar; muscovado
Unrefined sugar made from sugarcane juice, with a deep brown color and rich, molasses-like flavor. A specialty of Okinawa and other subtropical islands in Japan.
沖縄(おきなわ)の黒糖(こくとう)はおいしい。
Okinawan brown sugar is delicious.
黒糖(こくとう)を使(つか)ったお菓子(かし)が人気(にんき)だ。
Sweets made with brown sugar are popular.
このかりんとうは黒糖(こくとう)の風味(ふうみ)が効(き)いていて、素朴(そぼく)な甘(あま)さがたまらない。
These karinto snacks have a rich brown sugar flavor, and the rustic sweetness is irresistible.

Literally "black sugar" (黒(くろ) + 糖(とう)), named for its dark brown color. Unlike refined white sugar (白砂糖(しろざとう)), 黒糖(こくとう) retains minerals and has a distinctive deep, caramel-like flavor.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 黒糖(こくとう)焼酎(しょうちゅう): brown sugar shōchū (a specialty of Amami Ōshima)
  • 黒糖(こくとう)かりんとう: brown sugar karinto (fried dough snack)
  • 黒糖(こくとう)蜜(みつ): brown sugar syrup
  • 黒糖(こくとう)饅頭(まんじゅう): brown sugar manju
  • 黒糖(こくとう)風味(ふうみ): brown sugar flavor

CULTURAL NOTE:
黒糖(こくとう) is closely associated with 沖縄(おきなわ) and the 奄美(あまみ)諸島(しょとう), where sugarcane is grown. It is a common souvenir from these regions. 黒糖(こくとう)焼酎(しょうちゅう) is a unique spirit that can only legally be produced in the Amami Islands.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 砂糖(さとう): sugar — the general word for sugar, usually referring to refined white sugar
  • 三温糖(さんおんとう): light brown sugar — a milder, lighter-colored partially refined sugar
  • 氷砂糖(こおりざとう): rock sugar — large sugar crystals used for making fruit liqueurs
general
Added 2026.3.26 17:34
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