1. Cutting of Sugarcane in the Field
● Enslaved laborers cut mature sugarcane stalks using machetes.
● Stalks are carefully harvested to preserve maximum juice content.
2. Transporting Sugarcane to the Mill
● Bullock carts or human labor are used to transport harvested sugarcane to the mill.
● Sugarcane is loaded onto carts and taken to the processing site.
3. Crushing of Sugarcane
● Sugarcane is fed between heavy rollers in the mill.
● Rollers crush the sugarcane to extract juice.
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Boiling and Clarification
Sugarcane juice is collected and transferred to large cauldrons.
Juice is heated and impurities rise to the surface and are skimmed off.
The clarified juice is boiled until it reaches a thick consistency.
5. Crystallization
● The thickened juice is poured into molds or trays to cool and crystallize.
● As it cools, sugar crystals form and settle at the bottom.
6. Draining and Drying
● The solidified sugar mass is drained of excess liquid.
● Sugar is then left to dry in the sun or in drying houses.
7. Packaging
● Dried sugar is packed into barrels or hogsheads for storage and transport.
8. Distillation Process for Rum
● Molasses, a byproduct of sugar production, is collected.
● Molasses are mixed with water and yeast in fermentation tanks.
● Fermentation produces a liquid known as "wash" or "wine."
9. Distillation
● The wash is distilled in copper pot stills.
● Distillation separates alcohol from the wash, producing rum.
10. Aging
● Newly distilled rum is aged in wooden barrels to develop flavor and character.
11. Bottling and Packaging
● Aged rum is bottled and sealed.
● Bottles are packed into crates or barrels for storage and transport.
12. Loading of Barrels on Ships
● Sugar barrels and rum barrels are transported to the harbor.
● Barrels are loaded onto ships for export to other colonies or to Europe
13. Export
● Ships sail to destinations carrying barrels of sugar and rum for trade and commerce.