The Bitter Cauldron
Boiling Sugar: The Bitter Side of Sweet The Rise of Sugar in Barbados. Sugarcane cultivation began in Barbados in the early 1640s, when Dutch merchants introduced sugar production. The island's soil and favourable climate made it an ideal location for harvesting sugar. By the mid-17th century, Barbados had become one of the wealthiest colonies in the British Empire, earning the nickname "Little England."By the mid-17th century, Barbados had become one of the wealthiest nests in the British Empire, earning the label "Little England." But all was not sweetness in the land of Sugar as we discover next: The Dangerous Labour Behind Sugar In the shadow of Barbados' sun-soaked coasts and dynamic plant lies a darker tale of resilience and difficulty-- the hazardous labour behind its once-thriving sugar economy. Central to this story is the large cast iron boiling pots, essential tools in the sugar production process, but also painful signs of the g...