The reason we have two names for the same thing is largely a matter of history and marketing. You see, white sugar has been around for centuries, and it was originally referred to as "white" because of its pure, white color. On the other hand, granulated sugar got its name from the process of refining sugar, which involves crystallizing it into small, granules.
Think of it like a brand name versus a generic term - Coke versus cola, for example. Both refer to the same thing, but one is a specific brand, while the other is a more general term. In this case, white sugar is the generic term, while granulated sugar is more of a descriptive term that refers to the sugar's texture.
So, why should we care about the difference between white sugar and granulated sugar? Well, for one thing, understanding the terminology can help us make more informed choices when we're baking or cooking. For instance, if a recipe calls for granulated sugar, you can be sure that it's referring to the refined, white sugar we're all familiar with.
The difference between unrefined, raw, and refined sugars