Molasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar cane, grapes or sugar
beets into sugar. The word molasses comes from the Portuguese word mela o,
which ultimately comes from mel, the Latin word for "honey". The quality
of molasses depends on the maturity of the sugar cane or sugar beet, the
amount of sugar extracted, and the method of extraction. Sweet sorghum
syrup is known in some parts of the United States as molasses, though
it is not true molasses.