Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 27, 2026

Sugar nips

Sugar nips are a large pair of pincers with sharp blades, designed to cut sugar from a block. Before the introduction of granulated and cube sugars in the second half of the 19th century, the domestic consumer purchased sugar in the form of a sugarloaf, or at least a part of one, and pieces were cut from it by hand using sugar nips and other tools, such as sugar hammer. Greater leverage and improved safety was provided by heavier sugar nips set in a wooden base for counter- and table-top use.

Last revised
Jul 27, 2026
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Wikipedia ↗
Sugar nips for cutting a sugarloaf into smaller pieces source ↗

Sugar nips are a large pair of pincers with sharp blades, designed to cut sugar from a block.1 Before the introduction of granulated and cube sugars in the second half of the 19th century,2 the domestic consumer purchased sugar in the form of a sugarloaf,3 or at least a part of one, and pieces were cut from it by hand using sugar nips4 and other tools, such as sugar hammer. Greater leverage and improved safety was provided by heavier sugar nips set in a wooden base for counter- and table-top use.5

References

References

  1. David, Elizabeth. "English Bread and Yeast Cookery", Penguin:Middlesex 1977 (p. 139)
  2. "Sugar: a Handbook for Planters and Refiners", Lock & Newlands Bros, pub. Spon, London, 1888
  3. "History". Mawer.clara.net. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  4. [1] Archived October 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "The Victorian Servant - Sugar Cutter". Mylearning.org. Retrieved 2012-11-09.