Agave Syrup
Is it really that healthy?

Have you ever used agave syrup as a sweetener in place of your white sugar and any other artificial sweeteners? Many sugar substitutes that I have had to settle with have a bitter taste after the sweetness was gone. If you are seeking for natural alternatives in your daily diet, agave nectar could be a good option to avoid the side effects of sugar. For those unfamiliar with agave nectar... let me tell you a few things.

Where does Agave Nectar come from?

Agave syrup is a sweetener produced commercially in Mexico. It is made from several different species of agave plant, but the blue agave is the most commonly used. You've heard of agave and probably consumed products of this plant before the syrup was even known to you.

That's right... this plant is best recognized as the plant used to make tequila. The Mexican natives refer to it as "honey water" because the taste is comparable, but not identical, to honey. If you are like many people that don't like honey you'll find that agave is more suitable to your taste buds. Many vegans will agave as a substitute for honey.

The aztecs from centuries ago praised the agave as a gift from the gods and used it add flavors to food and drinks.

Benefits of Agave Nectar?

The numerous beneficial properties of the agave nectar have increased its awareness within the health community. A couple of decades ago, it had quickly became the sweetener of choice for many doctors, health conscious consumers, and natural food chefs. It was a good choice for those maintaining a lifestyle free from all animal products.

Many thought, including myself, that is was a much healthier alternative to the processed sugars and both natural and artificial sweeteners. Agave syrup made a great sugar substitute. It isn’t better for you because it is more calorie dense than your brown and white sugars. But keep in mind that it is about 40% sweeter. So you do need to use less in a recipe.

How to use Agave Syrup?

It can be used the same in recipes as your processed sugars or honey recipes. You can use it softening, browning, food preservation, and moisture retention. Even though you may compare it to honey, it’s still sweeter and has less viscosity. You can even use it to sweeten up your cold drinks, it dissolves quickly. My family used to pour it as syrup for pancakes and waffles years ago. We now use homemade syrup or maple syrup.

I personally enjoy the flavor of agave syrup. But I can no longer recommend it as one of my top natural sweeteners. The sugar content is to high to have it on a daily basis. There are much better low calorie sweeteners available on the market today for everyday use.

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