Mazelin Family Sorghum Syrup

1 pint - Tennessee, USA

Sorghum is one of the world’s oldest cultivated crops, first grown in northeastern Africa more than 5,000 years ago. From there, it spread across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, valued for its resilience in hot, dry climates and its versatility in the kitchen.

Globally, sorghum has been used as a grain, ground into flour, fermented into beverages, and cooked whole. Its long history as a dependable food source is part of what gives it lasting relevance today.

Sweet sorghum came to the United States in the 17th century, brought by enslaved Africans who carried with them deep agricultural knowledge. In American soil, sweet sorghum thrived and offered something especially important to rural households: a locally produced sweetener.

During the 19th century, sorghum syrup gained wider attention when abolitionists encouraged its use as an alternative to cane sugar, which was closely tied to enslaved labor. This helped establish sorghum syrup as both a practical and principled choice for many families.

Over time, sorghum syrup became a defining ingredient of Southern cooking. Made by pressing the juice from sweet sorghum cane and slowly boiling it down, the syrup shares some similarities with molasses but has a flavor all its own—earthy, lightly sweet, and slightly bitter. It has traditionally been used to sweeten biscuits, cornbread, pancakes, and baked goods, as well as stirred into sauces and glazes where a deeper, more complex sweetness is desired.

Today, sorghum syrup remains a distinctly American product with strong regional roots. While the United States is one of the world’s largest producers of sorghum as a crop, syrup production is usually small-scale and local.

It is most commonly found in the South—in states like Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee—sold through farmers’ markets, specialty shops, and local producers. Less common than maple syrup or molasses, sorghum syrup continues to be valued by cooks who appreciate its history, craftsmanship, and uniquely Southern flavor.