tebu

Tebu, in Malay and Indonesian contexts commonly called sugarcane, refers to several species of tall perennial grasses in the genus Saccharum, cultivated for their juice rich in sucrose. The most widely used cultivated form is Saccharum officinarum, often hybridized with other species. Sugarcane is grown in tropical and subtropical regions and has played a central role in global sugar production for centuries.

Sugarcane plants are tall stalks with jointed, ridged stems and broad leaves. They are propagated primarily by planting sections of the stalk (setts) from mature canes. They require warm temperatures, plentiful rainfall or irrigation, and long, frost-free growing seasons. Harvesting is often followed by ratooning, where the same plant is allowed to regrow from stumps for several harvests.

After harvest, juice is extracted and clarified, then evaporated and crystallized to produce raw and refined sugar. Byproducts include bagasse (fiber), molasses, and filter mud. The juice and syrup can be used as a fresh beverage; cane juice is common in many countries. Sugar is used in food production; molasses is used in baking and fermentation; bagasse supplies fuel for mills and can be used for paper and pulp; ethanol can be produced from sugarcane for biofuel and there is also rum production from molasses.

Major producers include Brazil, India, China, Thailand, and Pakistan. Sugarcane cultivation uses substantial water and can impact soil and biodiversity; sustainable practices include improved irrigation, precision agriculture, and mulching. The crop has a long history in trade and agriculture and spurred the development of sugar industries worldwide.