White sugar is sugar which has been refined and washed so that it has a white appearance and no molasses flavor. The flavor of white sugar is relatively neutral, making it a popular choice for baking and sweetening drinks. Most markets sell white sugar, often in several different formats, and when recipes call for sugar, they usually mean white sugar, unless the recipe explicitly calls for another type of sugar.

Sugar comes from either sugar cane or sugar beets. In both cases, the plants are crushed to exude their sweet juices, and the juice is allowed to crystallize into a loose crumble. This crumble can be sold as-is, but it is usually washed, allowed to crystallize, and then sold or refined as needed. In the case of white sugar, multiple washings are used, with some sugar refineries even bleaching their sugar to get it as white as possible. After the sugar has been sufficiently refined, it can be allowed to dry before it is packaged.

Granulated sugar is the most readily available form of white sugar. Granulated sugar comes in a range of grades, including nib sugar, table sugar, and caster sugar. The sugar can also be finely ground to make confectioner's sugar, a type of white sugar which is often blended with a small amount of cornstarch to keep it from clumping together. Producers can also mold white sugar into sugar cubes, which are often used to sweeten drinks.

This type of sugar is the most processed form, and some people prefer less refined forms of sugar, or sugar alternatives, such as sweeteners made from agave nectar or honey. Many refineries which make white sugar also produce brown sugar, white sugar which has been blended with molasses. Light and dark forms of brown sugar are available. This type of sugar tends to be more sticky and clumpy because of the increased moisture, and it also has a very distinctive flavor which makes it unsuitable for some applications.

By contrast with heavily refined white sugar, some companies also sell “raw” or “minimally processed” sugar which has not been as heavily washed and bleached. This sugar has a light golden color due to the remaining molasses, and a flavor which is somewhere between brown and white sugar. Some people view minimally processed sugar as a more natural and healthy product, especially if it is organically produced.