Sucrology

Sucrology is the hobby of collecting sugar packets, including wrappers, sachets, tubes, sticks, packs, bags, and squares. Sucrologists normally collect the small packets of sugar that are most commonly found in restaurants, hotels and airlines. In countries where the hobby is more common, such as Portugal and Italy, local coffee or sugar companies produce sugar packets. In countries such as Belgium and France, wrapped sugar cubes are more commonly used, hence sucrologists do collect sugar cube wrappers as well.

Types of sugar packets

The most common kinds of sugar packets that can be found are white sugar, brown sugar or demerara sugar and sweeteners. In many countries, the packets are color coded; white sugar in white packets, demerara sugar in brown packets, sweeteners come in blue, pink, yellow or green packets.

Acquisition of sugar packets

Sucrologists usually find sugar packets in cafés, restaurants, hotels, airlines, and some special events. To collect sugar packets from places far away, collectors ask their friends and family or travel themselves. Another popular method of increasing collection is by trading or swapping with other sucrologists. To find other collectors, there are clubs or running a search online may help to connect with other sucrologists. Lastly, collectible sugar packets can be bought on popular auction websites, even though it is not a highly desirable method of increasing collection among many sucrologists.

Clubs

There are numerous sucrology themed clubs in Europe. The most notable club is the UK Sucrologists' Club.^[1] Clubs may hold annual meetings locally or internationally, where sucrologists from around the world gather to trade sugar packets and meet fellow sucrologists. The most important international meeting is held in Italy in Pieve di Cento (Bologna) and brings together 150 exhibitors from 14 different countries.^[2]

Themes

Collectors may prefer to focus on collecting sugar packets by theme. For example, collecting sugar packets from various airlines is a popular theme. Other themes include hotels, fast-food chains, vintage sugar packets, series and sweeteners. Sucrologists may also collect by design or images featured on the packets, which may range from floral, zodiac signs, nature to cartoons.

Storage and organization

Depending on a sucrologist's preference of collecting empty or full packets, there are a variety of methods to store sugar packets. Many collectors store them in bags or boxes. Other collectors prefer to store them in binders using plastic coupon sleeves or trading card sleeves. However, not all sugar packet shapes can be stored in binders. Using tape or glue to stick them inside a book is not recommended as it can damage the packet. Sucrologists typically prefer to sort out their collections by country or by theme.

Guinness World Record

On May 14, 2013, a world record was made by Ralf Schröder^[3] in Germany whose collection consists of 14,502 sugar packets. Previous record belonged to Kristen Dennis ^[4] of Chicago, USA who logged 9,596 sugar packets in 2012.

References

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