This article will help you test the stages of sugar syrup when you are following Tamil sweets recipe. The stages of sugar syrup are very import for the good out come of sweets.
Two-thread consistency (soft-ball stage)
Three-thread consistency (hard-ball stage)
Before you test for thread stages the sugar has to be melted with water and cooked in medium heat. Stages progress fairly quickly after a point, so check frequently.
Below are the litmus test for stages of syrup.
One-thread consistency
To start the test dip a wooden spatula in the syrup and lift out. Allow to cool for a few seconds as it will be very hot at first. Now touch the syrup with a clean forefinger and then touch your thumb and forefinger together and pull apart gently.
One-thread consistency is when a single thread is formed (and does not break) when your forefinger and your thumb are pulled apart gently.
Two-thread consistency (soft-ball stage)
To start the test dip a wooden spatula in the syrup and lift out. Allow to cool for a few seconds as it will be very hot at first. Now touch the syrup with a clean forefinger and then touch your thumb and forefinger together and pull apart gently.
Two-thread consistency is when two threads are formed (and do not break) when your forefinger and your thumb are pulled apart gently. This stage is also called the 
- when a drop of syrup of this consistency is dropped into a bowl of cold water, it forms a soft ball.
- when a drop of syrup of this consistency is dropped into a bowl of cold water, it forms a soft ball.
Three-thread consistency (hard-ball stage)
To start the test dip a wooden spatula in the syrup and lift out. Allow to cool for a few seconds as it will be very hot at first. Now touch the syrup with a clean forefinger and then touch your thumb and forefinger together and pull apart gently.
Three-thread consistency is when three threads are formed (and do not break) when your forefinger and your thumb are pulled apart gently. This stage is also called the hard-ball stage - when a drop of syrup of this consistency is dropped into a bowl of cold water, it forms a hard ball.
Reference:
More stages with temperature
