The use of sugarcane as a sweetener dates back much further than before the Common Era, to ancient civilizations in India, China, and Southeast Asia. Sugarcane was first domesticated in New Guinea around 8,000 BCE, and it was eventually cultivated and traded throughout the ancient world.

The ancient Indians were particularly skilled in processing sugarcane into granulated sugar, and they developed a range of sugary sweets and confections. Today, sugar is used in a wide variety of products and it is a staple in every household and industry.

Source: factspedia.org