I like to use organic brown sugar made from sugarcane called Sucanat, it has a natural molasses flavour and is used in same way as molasses. I add it during floral cycle to help bring out the herbs natural odours,flavours and taste. You can measure sugar content in plants foliage using a refractometer or Brix meter to determine plants' health. The higher the sugar level within the plant tissue, the plant will be stronger and yield more. You can learn about nutrient problems in days or weeks before they are visible in the foliage. A brix reading below 10 indicates lack of nutrient while a reading above 12 signals a strong and healthy plant. Hope this is of help or interest. For anyone interested in obtaining a brix meter try the following website ; OpenDNS .