New to rock sugar and want to learn more

I do have some of Teavana’s rock sugar and I like it. I don’t usually sweeten my tea, though. The previous poster was right that it is beet sugar, and I have noticed that some US companies sell brown rock sugar but it is just plain white sugar that has been cooked. I know, because I made some myself a while back just to see if I could when a nearby tea company started selling it.

I most prefer to buy unrefined cane sugar at Whole Foods Market or at my local health food store. BJ’s sells a good organic one, also. It hasn’t been bleached and therefore retains some of the micronutrients and…well, it hasn’t been exposed to a bleaching agent! Lots of brown rock sugar is just cooked white sugar.

Wow. There’s clearly no end to what I can learn about rock sugar!
I think I’ll start with teavana’s offering, since it’s close to me. I intend on trying it next to ordinary white sugar to see if I can discern a difference in taste.
Thanks for all the replies here; you definitely learn something new every day!

I use a very small amount of sugar, not necessarily to sweeten, but to enhance the flavor of Spring Flush Darjeeling teas. I used various cane sugars but they all have a slight flavor to them which I disliked. I then tried sugar from Mariage Freres sugar which was sweet and did not have any distracting flavors. It is expensive.

Then I tried the Mitsui and Nissin sugars, Spoon and Cup brand, and they had high grade large granule sugar, made from rock sugar, especially suited for tea. Same no flavor sweet taste exactly the same as Mariage Freres sugar but at a fraction of the price.

The only drawback is, it’s only sold in Japan. Not a problem for me since I go there several times a year. I have a large stash at home and at work and can’t go back to regular sugar. Although it’s made from rock sugar, it’s granulated which makes it easier to dissolve and to measure. Large granules, extremely uniform in shape/size and I only use 1/4 teaspoon per 360ml of tea.

I also enjoy using Persimmon Tree’s German Rock Sugar. My friend gave me some to try not too long ago, and you get a free sample if you buy a 5 tea sampler pack. I love to put sugar on everything as well!

I use demerara sugar, usually organic. Usually can get it at any grocery store.