We have been striving in our household to avoid GMOs when we can.
One of the problems has been sugar. I have found some non-GMO alternatives.
However the cost has been so high that I really couldn’t call them affordable. I have been hoping to find a sugar that is closer in price to the traditional white granulated sugar I have been buying for years, which is all likelihood contains GM0s since about 95% of the sugar beets now grown in the United States are genetically modified.
I did not expect to find what I was looking for at particular Walmart store that seems to never have what I am looking for 🙂
Affordable Non-GMO Sugar
A couple weeks ago I was in our local Walmart to pick up something (can’t remember what anymore) and was just pursuing the sugar section to see if they had any non-GMO options. I wasn’t expecting to find anything.
However I spotted a shelf containing 2 lb bags of Zulka Morena Pure Cane Sugar. Check the packaging, confirmed non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project. The price for the 2 lb bag was $1.29! They also offered 4 lb bags for $2.59 but those were all gone at the time.
ALDI Has the Best Price on Zulka Morena Sugar
I later found that ALDI stocks the 4 pounds bags for $1.95, which is the best price I have found on it. Most of the time I get it at Kroger because it’s the closest store to my house and ALDI is quite the drive. At Kroger that same bag goes for $3.29
What is Zulka Morena Pure Cane Sugar
The term “Morena” refers to the light golden color of the sugar. It’s a term used in Mexico where the sugar is cultivated. Morena Pure Cane Sugar differs from granluated white sugar in several ways.
1. It is not processed to remove color like white sugar. The sugar is naturally golden brown – not white. Morena is never refined.
2. Morena is processed minimally. You lose less of the flavor and nutrients of the sugar cane. This sugar actually tastes like something more than just sweet. Just a little hint of a caramel like flavor on the tongue.
3. Morena sugar has larger crystals than white sugar. If that is a problem for you, you could always break it up in your food processor.
How is Zulka Morena Pure Cane Sugar Made?
The easy way to describe it is the sugar cane is pressed into juice. Then the liquid from the juice is evaported in a vaccum until you have dried sugar crystals. No refining takes place after that.
Can I Use Zulka Morena Pure Cane Sugar in Replace of White Sugar?
Not only can you, but you really should try to. The taste is better, it is less refined, your getting more of the natural nutrients of the sugar cane plant, and you can use it in any white sugar recipe, cup for cup. You don’t have to change any measurements.
Where to Buy Zulka Morena Pure Cane Sugar
Buy Zulka Morena Pure Cane Sugar and have it shipped to the comfort of your own home. You can also try out their brown sugar as well.
Here are other retailers that you may find it at.
- Walmart
- Meijer
- ALDI
- Safeway
- Kroger
- Albertsons
- Food 4 Less
- SUPERVALU
- Superior
- El Super
- WinCo
If you have found Zulka Morena Sugar at another store, let us know in the comments section below. Thanks for helping!
Recipes
Here are some of the recipes from the blog that feature Zulka Morena sugar.
- Homemade Brown Sugar – Zulka Morena Sugar + Molasses
- Citrus Fudge
- Brown Sugar Peach Strusel Pie
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Laura
March 4, 2013 at 10:01 amI’m a newbie at this non-refined sugar thing and recently I bought the “Sugar in the Raw” brand. Unfortunately, I’ve been too scared to try it in baking because I’ve read the sugar crystals don’t melt correctly and the end product isn’t good. If you don’t mind I have a few questions…
Is this product the same as the “Sugar in the Raw” brand?
If I do break down the crystals in either brand with my food processor, would I still use cup for cup?
Thanks in advance,
Laura
Eric Samuelson
March 4, 2013 at 8:56 pmSugar in the Raw is a brand name for turbinado sugar, which is very similar to demera sugar. Both of these sugars are good in teas, coffee, and I like them on top of baked goods to add a bite of crunch. Morena Pure Cane Sugar is not this type of sugar. It’s a little finer than turbinado. It’s a lot closer to white sugar than turbinado is.
I did say you can make the Morena sugar finer in a food processor if you like but it’s not necessarily. It’s worked fine for me so far in things like pancakes.
Laura
March 6, 2013 at 8:37 amThank you! 🙂
Audrey
March 23, 2013 at 4:07 pmI love this sugar, I bought it once when it was on sale not knowing much about it and I have been hooked ever since. If you try this and then try regular sugar, regular white sugar just doesn’t taste good anymore. I like that this is also very affordable and really doesn’t cost any more than store brand white sugar especially with coupons.
Thanks for helping spread the word!
Jessica Popa
May 21, 2014 at 9:50 pmWhich Walmart do you recall? I know this was a long time ago but may be worth checking out again? I’m in the A2 area as well.
Eric Samuelson
May 22, 2014 at 4:40 amI have seen it at both the Walmart near Saline on State St. and the one in Ypsi on Ellsworth.
Jan
November 4, 2014 at 11:42 amAldi stores now carry Zulka Morena pure cane sugar.
Eric Samuelson
November 4, 2014 at 11:46 amReally, I did not know that. Thanks for sharing!
Lucy ortiz
January 1, 2015 at 4:14 pmI purchased it at Aldi’s in Spring, Texas.
Priscilla Fuentes
January 9, 2015 at 1:25 pmI would buy it at Walmart but now they do not carried that brand. I really like it. I am writing from Rochester, NY
Eric Samuelson
January 10, 2015 at 8:50 amMy Walmart stopped carrying it too. My local Kroger store carries it.
Jim
January 25, 2015 at 2:16 amUsing for about four months and its does great in desserts I think it a bit sweeter great and makes great cheese cakes.Try it J
Gracie Mesd-Rickman
July 27, 2015 at 7:59 pmI found it st Sam’s Club.
vester
March 23, 2016 at 9:40 amThank you for your review [3-2013] . I have been using Zulka for over a year and no longer use any processed white sugar or HFCS if possible to avoid. Like you, I found and tried it on a curiosity basis after seeing it only in the Spanish food section of a Walmart. I also use Walmart.com but Zulka is poorly packaged for shipping delivery by uncaring warehouse packers…another story. While researching some non gmo foods I came across your comments. I have even bought bags for friends to try and a number of them now prefer it as well. Naturally the price has fluctuated– last purchase [2-2016] was $4.98 for 8 pounds– a better buy than the 2 / 4 pounder bags.[ walmart.com always seems to have it available]. I bake a lot and find it works well if allowed to break down to absorb moisture before baking, It adds great extra crunch as a dessert topping or to sprinkle on fruit , cookies, cereal or anything you like. I like it and hope others see your review and give it a try! Thanks again Eric! How are the ducks? Our community outlawed them as they gossip a lot.
Safina
July 22, 2016 at 3:28 pmLove this sugar! I switched over to it about a half a year, year ago because I switched to a vegan diet for the animals. I always do a ton of baking, and I found this at Aldi (discount grocer). It is relatively affordable for the quantity. It makes me feel better knowing my sugar is not filtered with animal bone char and processed/refined a whole lot. There is virtually no difference in baked goods, coffee, milkshakes that you use it in. I also haven’t ran into any problems with the sugar crystals themselves being too big; they are a little bit bigger than normal white granulated but it does not make any difference in food I use it in. Hope this helps (:
~ Safina
Eric Samuelson
July 26, 2016 at 10:41 amDidn’t know Aldi carried it. That’s good to hear. We pretty much only use that sugar in our household too, unless I really need sugar and am at a store that doesn’t sell it.
Deborah Johnson
October 9, 2016 at 12:35 amI found Zulka morena pure cane sugar at dollar tree today in Wylie, TX of course for $1.00
Eric Samuelson
October 9, 2016 at 9:51 pmWow. I didn’t know they carried it. What a find at Dollar Tree!!!!
Jessie
October 27, 2016 at 9:41 amIn TX, HEB carries it as well as Michoacana Markets everywhere that’s an urban center like in San Antonio. I’ve found that the 4lb bags are more likely to be found than any others. Just my view.
This sugar, I’ve found, works well if you add it to the dry ingredients before the wet, unless you’re making cakes and cookies. In which case you’re better off doing a LONG creaming cycle or if you’re making cookies, let the sugar sit with the butter or other wet ings for a good while before mixing with the dry ings.
Whatever you have to do to add this sugar into your baking, do it. Your tastebuds and your family’s will LOVE you for it!!
Eric Samuelson
October 28, 2016 at 9:14 amThanks for the info. It is pretty much the only sugar I use now.
Beverly Mason
August 18, 2018 at 5:23 pmI found at Walmart online — 4 lbs. for $1.98. I made some hummingbird nectar with it, but so far the birds are steering clear of that feeder and going for the two feeders with refined sugar nectar. Bummer, cuz it was cost-effective and I like that it’s more natural.
Lisbeth
October 20, 2018 at 2:40 pmI tried and it is excelent. I love it great for baking and tea.
Linda
October 27, 2018 at 9:22 amI love this stuff, too, but would like to know how much, if any, heat is applied during the evaporation process. I’m trying to adhere to a diet that helps MS patients and am hoping the Zulka Moreno sugar is acceptable.
W. M.
December 20, 2018 at 12:14 pmGet it at Shop Rite here in lovely Napanoch N. Y. Wakefern food corp. Division of.
Eric Samuelson
December 23, 2018 at 11:06 amThanks for sharing.
Eric Samuelson
December 23, 2018 at 11:28 amThose silly birds don’t know what they are missing.
Mika Ferreras
March 15, 2019 at 6:04 amComparing labels with refined sugar shows a difference in grams of sugar. Morena has 4gms if added sugars and 4 grams of sugar for total of 8gms per serving while white refined sugar has 4gms total. I’m a bit confused about this. Something doesn’t add up so I opted not to buy it. Available at Market Basket.
Cathy Wilkinson
April 3, 2019 at 11:29 pmThe bags of Morena at Dollar Tree are much smaller than Walmart. I have yet to find it anywhere else cheaper than Walmart.
Holly Harken
April 5, 2019 at 1:35 pmI just bought a 4 pound bag at my local Aldi for $2.39.
Dee
April 16, 2019 at 2:27 pmI have used this to make genuine peanut butter fudge. It turns out fine, without any additional grinding or processing. It’s 2019 and I’m finding it at Walmart.
Julie Jamison
May 10, 2019 at 9:39 pmWe have this sugar at our local Costco here in Washington State.
bjs
June 13, 2019 at 11:03 am99 cent store in Santa Monica, CA has it in 4 lb. bags