How is cane syrup made?

Cane syrup or, more
specifically, molasses, is produced from sugar cane.
(Sulfured molasses is made from the young sugar cane, with the addition of sulfur
dioxide during the extraction process, while unsulfured molasses is produced from mature
cane minus the sulfur dioxide.) In production, the harvested cane plant is stripped of
its leaves and then crushed to extract the juice. The juice is then boiled,
concentrating it to produce the crystallization of the sugar. This process produces the
sweetest form of molasses, known as first molasses. A second
boiling and extraction of sugar produces second molasses, a less
sweet and more bitter tasting syrup. A third boiling process constitutes
blackstrap molasses, which includes the least amount of sugar but
also contains some vitamins and minerals.