Fundamentals of Brix

This unit of measurement is valuable to crop and livestock producers.

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The Brix value tells you how much dissolved sugar is in a liquid solution. This value is indicated in °Brix (°Bx), and 1°Bx = 1g of sucrose in 100g of solution. That is, when measuring a solution solely made up of sugar and water, the Brix reading should match the actual concentration. The higher the Brix value, the sweeter the liquid solution. This means that the Brix value is important for the taste and quality of your end product.

For one, it will tell you if your fruit or vegetables are ripe. All you need is a little sample of sap and a handheld refractometer. You then compare the results to a chart showing the desirable readings.

This will differ from crop to crop, of course. Cabbage is ready for picking at 10°Bx to 12°Bx, lemons at 8°Bx to 12°Bx, onions at 8°Bx to 10°Bx, and so forth.