Sugarcane, Sugar, and Jaggery Production in Ancient India: An Archaeological and Literary Perspective
Sugarcane, a tall perennial grass that belongs to the genus Saccharum, is native to Southeast Asia and has been cultivated for thousands of years for its juice and sugar. Ancient India was one of the earliest centers of sugarcane cultivation and sugar production, and archaeological and literary evidences suggest that the crop played an important role in the country’s economy and culture.…