When it comes to sweetening beverages and foods, two varying options are simple syrup and neotame. Simple syrup, also known as “sugar syrup,” is a liquid sugar commonly used to sweeten cocktails, iced tea, and more. It blends effortlessly into cold drinks, making it a convenient choice. On the other hand, neotame is a non-caloric artificial sweetener that is 8000 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar). It enhances food flavors without any notable off-flavors and is often combined with other sweeteners to maximize their sweetness. In this article, we will compare and evaluate the characteristics and benefits of these two sweeteners to determine which one reigns superior.
Comparing Neotame vs Simple Syrup
| Neotame | Simple Syrup | |
| Substitution ratio | n/a | n/a |
| Gluten-free? | Yes | Yes |
| Keto-friendly? | No | No |
| Paleo-friendly? | No | No |
| Common Allergens | Aspartame | Depends on ingredients |
| Pantry shelf life (unopened/sealed) | 5 years | 1 – 6 months |
| Best for baking | Packaged sugar-free treats like frozen desserts and yogurts. | Cocktails and sweet iced beverages |
Differences Between Neotame And Simple Syrup
Basic simple syrup is a mixture of equal parts pure cane sugar and water. However, most commercial varieties of simple syrup use artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, or high-fructose corn syrup instead of sugar. These alternatives provide sweetness with fewer calories or have specific taste profiles.
A relatively new player in the artificial sweetener game called Neotame. Derived from aspartame, Neotame is considered a potential successor to its predecessor. Like aspartame, Neotame offers a sweet taste resembling sucrose without any bitter or metallic aftertaste. It is a white to off-white crystalline powder that remains stable even at high temperatures.
Neotame is an all-purpose artificial sweetener suitable for various cooking and baking applications. It finds its way into baked goods, beverages, chewing gum, desserts, yogurt-type products, and even as a tabletop sweetener. With its versatility and absence of unpleasant aftertastes, Neotame provides a viable alternative for those seeking a sugar substitute.
Taste and Culinary Uses
Classic simple syrup delivers a sweet yet straightforward taste. Its flavor profile remains focused due to the type of sugars used. On the other hand, flavored simple syrups, made by infusing ingredients during the boiling process or while the syrup cools, provide an array of options. Typical flavors like vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, and lemon open up possibilities for specialty cocktails, lemonade, flavored teas, coffees, and milk drinks. They also make delightful toppings for fruits, pancakes, and other desserts.
Neotame excels in enhancing flavors, particularly those of berries and citrus fruits. It finds wide application in various food products, including carbonated drinks, yogurts, cakes, drink powders, and chewing gums. Neotame is an ideal pharmaceutical sweetener, effectively masking the taste of supplements, vitamins, bitter ingredients, and active pharmaceuticals.
Are Neotame and Simple Syrup Substitutes for Each Other?
Neotame and simple syrup are not suitable substitutes for each other, as neotame is about 8000 times sweeter! To substitute neotame for simple syrup, you’d have to significantly reduce the ratio of neotame to syrup.
Nutritional Profile And Health Benefits
Simple syrup (2 tbsp)
- Calories: 80
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Sugars: 19 g
- GI: around 65
Neotame
- Calories: 0
- Carbohydrates: 0 g
- Sugars: 0 g
- GI: n/a
Neotame offers zero calories, doesn’t affect blood sugar, and doesn’t cause cavities. On the other hand, simple syrup can provide a quick energy boost due to its high sugar content, but it lacks nutritional value.
Diet Suitability
Simple syrup can be vegan-friendly, depending on the type of sugar used. However, it is not suitable for a keto or paleo diet. If you follow a keto diet, you can either purchase or make keto-friendly simple syrup. Similarly, for those following a paleo diet, you can find or create paleo-friendly simple syrup as an alternative. Simple syrup in any form is not approved for the Whole30 diet.
Neotame is vegan, which is excellent news for those following a vegan lifestyle. However, it is not keto-friendly due to its composition. Neotame is an artificial sweetener and highly refined, making it incompatible with the natural and unprocessed foods emphasized in the paleo diet. Furthermore, neotame is not approved for the Whole30 diet, which restricts the consumption of added or artificial sweeteners.
How to Store Neotame and Simple Syrup
For simple syrup, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. Ensure dry and proper storage conditions to prolong the shelf life of neotame, which is not hygroscopic, for at least five years.
Price and Availability
The cost of simple syrup can vary depending on its size and type, ranging from $4.00 and up. The price typically falls between US $25 and $80 per kilogram for neotame. Neotame is also a little more challenging to find.
Environmental Impact
Syrup production and its environmental impact are closely tied to the sourcing of ingredients. Most syrups are derived from sugarcane or beets. Traditional sugar production can contribute to deforestation, water pollution, and soil degradation. However, by sourcing these ingredients from sustainable sources, syrup manufacturers can help mitigate these issues.
On the other hand, artificial sweeteners also have significant environmental implications. These potent chemical compounds, which are not fully metabolized by the human body, pose environmental challenges. Their non-natural origin makes it difficult for the environment to degrade these substances on its own.
Neotame vs Simple Syrup: The Ultimate Verdict
I will choose simple syrup over neotame any day, as it is much more natural and easier to use in recipes. Not only that, but its environmental impact can be lower than other artificial sweeteners, depending on its ingredients. All in all, when deciding between neotame and simple syrup, I believe simple syrup is the clear winner.
FAQs
If you need a replacement for simple syrup, consider these options that are likely already stocked in your kitchen: honey, maple syrup, and agave. Simply incorporate warm water into the mixture to transform honey or agave into syrup.
Neotame is applied in baked goods, beverages, candies, chewing gum, dairy products, frozen desserts, puddings, yogurt-like products, and as a sweetener for your table.
The intense sweetness of this substance poses challenges for accurate measurement. Its use of aspartame prompts negative connotations. Its sweetness exhibits delayed effects compared to sugar. Plus, its sweet taste lingers longer than that of sugar.
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