Varieties of Sugar Cane for the Garden: Purple, Yellow or Green

What is the difference between purple/red sugar cane, yellow sugar cane, and green sugar cane?

Sugar cane comes in many varieties, both heirloom and specially bred. For the backyard garden you are more likely to encounter heirloom varieties.

The purple cane is usually the softest for chewing. So if you want to chew the cane and suck out the juice, the purple cane is likely the best. For juicing I am told it can be too soft and tends to break off in the juicer.

Yellow and green canes are harder and hold up well in the juicer. These varieties are what the farmers grow to make table sugar.

Purple sugar cane is usually the softest and is the easiest to peel and chew.

Green cane is harder than purple cane and is more compatible with juicing machines. This cane started out green, but as it matured, it took on a more yellow color.

This is yellow cane I grew from a cane purchased from a juice vendor. It was very sweet and the termites loved it!

Sugar cane can be juiced with the skin on or peeled. Leaving the skin on allows the juice to take on the color of the skin and gives it a richer taste. Personally, I prefer that the cane be juiced with the skin on, as long as it is well washed and scrubbed before juicing. In the video below, David, of TuboBiz shows the effects of juicing with the skin on, or peeled. He's located in the Phillipines.