noun
brown sugar (Japanese variety); dark sweet liquid from third heating in sugar refining
Refers to a specific Japanese brown sugar made by heating sugar crystals three times, giving it a caramel-like flavor and moist texture. The technical definition (sense 1) describes the production process, while the common usage (sense 2) simply calls it brown sugar. In everyday contexts, it is treated as a type of brown sugar used in cooking.
三温糖は普通の砂糖よりコクがある。
San'ontō has a richer flavor than regular sugar.
この煮
This simmered dish tastes better when you use san'ontō.
砂糖 (satō) is the general term for sugar. 三温糖 is a specific type of brown sugar with a distinct production method and flavor.
The name 三温糖 (san'ontō) literally means 'three-warm sugar,' referring to the three heating stages in its refining process. The exact historical origin of the term is uncertain, but it is a modern Japanese coinage for this specific product.