Is hardwood smoked sugar vegan?

Hardwood smoked sugar is granulated sugar that has been exposed to smoke from burning hardwood to impart a rich, smoky aroma and flavor. The process typically involves placing refined sugar into a controlled smoking chamber where it slowly absorbs volatile compounds from botanical woods such as hickory, applewood, mesquite, or oak. It is commonly found in barbecue sauces, dry seasoning rubs, marinades, glazes, snack foods, and specialty baked goods.

This ingredient is considered vegan because both the base sweetener and the flavoring medium originate entirely from plants. The base is derived from sugar cane or sugar beets, while the smoke is generated solely through the combustion of natural wood chips or logs. Because no animal derivatives, dairy, or animal-based processing aids are utilized during the smoking and packaging phases, hardwood smoked sugar is suitable for a vegan diet.