Sugar nips

Sugar nips are a type of culinary tool used for breaking off pieces of hard sugar. They were commonly used in the 17th and 18th centuries when sugar was sold in large, hard cones or loaves.

History

Sugar nips were first used in the 17th century when sugar was a luxury item. Sugar was sold in large cones or loaves, which were too hard to break with hands or a knife. Sugar nips, which are similar to large pliers, were used to break off pieces of sugar.

Design

Sugar nips are typically made of iron or steel, although some examples made of silver or brass exist. They consist of two long arms, which are hinged at one end. The other ends are shaped into sharp, flat blades. The blades are used to grip and break the sugar. Some sugar nips have a spring mechanism to keep the blades apart when not in use.

Usage

To use sugar nips, the user would place the blades around the sugar loaf and squeeze the handles together. This would break off a piece of sugar, which could then be used in cooking or to sweeten drinks.

Modern Day

Today, sugar nips are largely obsolete due to the availability of granulated and cube sugar. However, they are still used in some traditional cooking methods and are popular among collectors of antique kitchenware.

See Also

• Sugarloaf
• Sugar refinery
• History of sugar

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