Sarah Ryan

Sugar, a term encompassing various sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, is widely used in the food industry. It includes monosaccharides like glucose, fructose, and galactose. The commonly known "sugar" is sucrose, composed of glucose and fructose, extracted from sugar cane or sugar beet. However, there is an alternative sugar called allulose that occurs naturally in figs, raisins, wheat, maple syrup, and molasses. [...]

Agave may be famous for being the tequila plant, but it also makes a fantastic syrupy sweetener! Unlike sugar, which is composed of glucose and fructose, the most common form of agave nectar contains a higher ratio of fructose to glucose. This higher fructose content gives agave nectar its characteristic taste. Blue-agave syrup, for example, has approximately 56% fructose, offering potent sweetening properties. However, [...]

Kombucha is an increasingly popular fermented (and delicious) tea beverage and recipe ingredient, but one of the questions many potential consumers have is how much alcohol is in the stuff. The answer to this question isn’t simple and can vary with each individual bottle!  If you are looking to get your buzz on, kombucha may not be the thing to do it with. Although kombucha can contain some alcohol, most varieties usually [...]

Erythritol and sugar are both commonly used in food as sweeteners. However, they have distinct differences in their composition and properties. Sugar, also known as sucrose, combines glucose and fructose extracted from sugar cane or sugar beet. Erythritol is an organic compound derived from corn using enzymes and fermentation. It is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol and is considered a sugar substitute due to its sweet [...]

Chicory syrup is an exciting addition to the sweetener market. Derived from fresh chicory roots, this syrup is an entirely natural product and is usually unrefined. It has a nectar-like viscosity like honey and a mild sweet taste. Unlike traditional sugar, chicory syrup boasts an exceptionally high fiber content and a very low glycemic index. It is gluten-free, lactose-free, and free from preservatives and [...]

Aspartame and sugar are both sweetening agents used in food and beverages, but they differ in various aspects. Sugar is a generic term for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates found in many food products. It encompasses simple sugars, such as glucose, fructose, and galactose. Sucrose, commonly known as table sugar, combines glucose and fructose extracted from sugar cane or sugar beet. Sugar provides satisfaction by adding [...]