Costco Organic Brown Sugar Review
Author’s Note: Not a paid review. I have no affiliation with Costco. As always, these are my own silly opinions.
I tried this unrefined brown sugar from Brazil.
I bought a 7.5 pound bag of organic brown sugar from Costco. And, as I heaved the unwieldly sack into my shopping cart, I could hear Marilla Cuthbert’s dry, exasperated voice muttering, “Twenty pounds of brown sugar.”
Anyway. I bought it. And now I’ll tell you about it.
I am a fan of molasses flavor, and in my world, brown sugar can never be too dark. If you are wondering “how dark” Costco’s version is, I would place it somewhere between “dark” and “light” in color. It’s medium.
To be fair, the bag doesn’t describe it as either. It just says, “Organic Brown Sugar.” It’s worth adding that this is unrefined brown sugar — a different animal from refined brown sugar, which is white sugar with molasses added back in. This product is the natural sugar without the minerals removed. The ingredients on this bag list only “organic brown sugar” — rather than “sugar” and “molasses.” Yay.
This is also “cane sugar,” as opposed to “beet sugar,” which is commonly found in refined table sugars.
Anyway. I digress. The sugar grains in Costco’s brown sugar are quite large, bordering on coarse. They’re enjoyably cronchy. In fact, you could use this sugar as a crunchy finishing sugar, if you wished.
I like the consistency; it seems to clump together less egregiously than other brown sugars. It’s moist, but easy to scoop and measure. Not as sticky. I didn’t have any hard or compacted areas in my entire bag.
Speaking of measuring: if you are like me, you probably hate the mess of sticking your hand in a bag of brown sugar when cooking. Or worse, trying to pour the sugar into a measuring cup. Ugh. I had a rare brain wave: I realized I could put all of my brown sugar into an empty Costco Kirkland Peanut Butter Pretzel Nuggets plastic canister.
Apparently, it pays to be a weird, frugal hermit who saves everything.
Yes, that’s a 55 ounce tub of peanut butter pretzels. If you aren’t already buying these snacks, you should be. And now you have another reason. You’re welcome.
The entire bag of sugar fit perfectly in the canister, although I had to thunk it on the counter repeatedly to settle the sugar. I even had room at the top for a measuring scoop. The sturdy lid screws on tightly, making this air-tight storage. Best of all, the opening is big enough to stick my hand inside, when scooping. Plus, the jug has a convenient grabby area, so it’s easy to move around. Huzzah.
Costco’s organic brown sugar has a delicate molasses taste. Again, it isn’t as strong as “dark brown sugar,” but it isn’t weak, either. It tastes a bit caramelly, without the brashness of concentrated molasses. I used some in my coffee lattes, and loved the subtle flavor kick.
I baked these Cashew Cookies with my brown sugar, and they turned out great, too. The flavor was gentle, but distinct. Although this brown sugar starts out with a coarse texture, it creams nicely with the butter, and thoroughly dissolves in the batter. The end result is smooth and fluffy.
Ingredients in Costco Organic Brown Sugar
Well, there’s only ONE ingredient:
- Organic Brown Sugar
The sugar is certified organic by Quality Assurance International.
More information from the label:
- USDA Organic
- Unrefined
- “Vegan Friendly”
- Kosher
This sugar is imported from Brazil, but packed in the USA. You can find it in the Costco dry goods aisle, next to the flour and other baking ingredients, like chocolate chips.
I do find it strange that there is no “brand” associated with this brown sugar. Not even the Costco “Kirkland” store brand. Weird. Anyway. The store item # is: 1582259.
Nutrition Facts in Costco Organic Brown Sugar
Here are the Nutrition Facts, from the label. A two-teaspoon serving contains 30 calories, and 8 grams of sugars. Which is entirely predictable. I mean, it’s sugar.
Price and Servings
The 7.5 pound bag currently costs $8.79 at my local Costco. Per pound, that is $1.17. Per ounce, it is about 7 cents.
Since there are 425 servings per bag, each serving costs 2 cents.
Storing and Using the Brown Sugar
The storage instructions on the label forbid refrigeration. So, don’t, I guess? The bag recommends reviving hardened sugar by covering with a damp kitchen towel overnight, and then fluffing with a fork.
The “use by” date on my bag allows almost 2 years to consume.
Dramatic Conclusion
I am not sure I needed this much brown sugar, but it is a good value. The flavor intensity is moderate, and the texture is on the coarse site, but overall good quality. I now have enough brown sugar to last me a couple years, at least.
Now I just need an invitation to a ball, and a blue dress “with puffed sleeves.”
The End.
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