Sugar making has had a long and colourful history in Portugal and her former colonies. Cane was almost certainly produced in the southern part, the Algarve, during the period of Arab domination, but it is first mentioned in royal-letters from the start of the 15th century. Documented production began in earnest with the discovery of Madeira in 1425 and the establishment of an industry based first on manual, then animal-powered presses. Following the route of the Portuguese maritime discoveries, sugar-making was later introduced into the Cape Verde and Sao Tome islands, and Brazil. In Angola and Mozambique, although sugarcane was grown from the 16th century, sugar production only began nearly 300 years later, at the end of the 19th century,On the Portuguese mainland, cane sugar refining has continued from the middle of the 16th century. In the course of this time,. different sectors of the industry have weathered earthquakes, pest: infestations, piracy, slavery, war, invasions and sweeping market changes; And now, the greatest fear of most producers is that the price may slide another cent or two per pound!
