fermentation

Before they can be distilled, the juice or molasses should be converted into an alcoholic liquid (wort or "cane wine") via fermentation. Fermentation, made by yeasts converts sugar (sucrose) in carbon and alcohol (ethyl alcohol, in this case) dioxide.

First, a solution containing approximately 15% sugar molasses diluted with water whose quality is really important is prepared. However, it is often fermented cane juice for the "rhum agricole" without adding water provided that the natural sugar content is low.

Although you can use wild yeasts in the air to induce fermentation, most producers use improved yeast to help develop the characteristics of the different rums strains.