Raw sugar is less refined than white sugar, retaining some of the nutrients and coloring that are removed during the white sugar refining process.

Raw sugar is a minimally processed sugar that has a high molasses content which gives it a rich, complex flavor. Use this raw sugar for desserts and baked goods and as a delicious topping for pastries.

Raw sugar comes from sugar cane like white sugar, but it has a warm, golden brown color, along with coarser grains. When producers extract raw sugar from sugar cane, they let it dry in its natural state instead of refining it to remove its color. Raw sugar has the same nutritional value as white sugar.

It's often mistaken for traditional brown sugar because of its light brown color, but it's made in a different way. Many people consider it to be healthier than both white and brown sugars, since it is generally less processed and refined.

Recipes that call for raw or turbinado sugar tend to use it as a replacement for traditional brown sugar. It contains more moisture than regular white or brown sugars, which can be beneficial in things like cookies or muffins. In contrast, one should not replace table sugar with turbinado in recipes that already have several ingredients providing moisture, to avoid making the end product soggy. It is sometimes possible to use turbinado sugar in recipes like these by reducing the amount of another moisturizing ingredient or using less sugar than is called for, but it may take some experimentation to get the final product to come out correctly.

Raw and turbinado sugar is a popular topping for cinnamon cookies and toast, and is commonly used in graham cracker piecrusts. Chefs may also use it on creme caramel, since it melts and caramelizes well. Given its higher moisture content, it can harden if exposed to too much air. Manufacturers recommend storing it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.

Botanical Name: Saccharum officinarum
aka: Turbinado sugar, demerara
Origin: USA
Notes: Kosher
Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Reference
livestrong.com
wisegeek.com