Neotame, sometimes marketed as Newtame, is an artificial sweetener and aspartame analog developed by NutraSweet. It is a non-caloric sweetener that is approximately 8000 times sweeter than sucrose. You heard right. 8000.
Sugar, on the other hand, is a natural product found in various foods. It comprises simple sugars like glucose and fructose. Sucrose is what is commonly known as table sugar and is extracted from sugar cane or sugar beet. While sugar provides a sweet taste, neotame offers intense sweetness without the added calories.
But do no-calories really make a sweetener better? Let’s see.
Comparing Neotame vs. Sugar
Neotame | Sugar | |
Substitution ratio | 8000:1 | 1:8000 |
Gluten-free? | Yes | Yes |
Keto-friendly? | Yes | No |
Paleo-friendly? | No | No |
Common Allergens | Aspartame | Sugarcane |
Pantry shelf life (unopened/sealed) | 5 years | 2 plus years |
Best for baking | Sweetening beverages | Any kinds of cakes, pastries, and desserts. |
Differences Between Neotame And Sugar
Sugar and neotame are both sweeteners used in food, but they have huge differences. One of the primary differences between neotame and sugar is their sweetness. Neotame possesses a sweet taste similar to sucrose without any bitter or metallic aftertaste. It is also significantly sweeter than sugar, meaning a smaller amount is required to achieve the desired level of sweetness in food and beverages.
Another distinction lies in the source and composition of these sweeteners. Sugar is naturally occurring and can be found in fruits, dairy products, and carbohydrates. It undergoes a refining process to obtain the granulated sugar we commonly use. Neotame, being an artificial sweetener, is not naturally occurring and is produced through chemical synthesis from aspartame. It appears as a white powder with a solid form.
Taste and Culinary Uses
Aside from composition, the functionalities of sugar and neotame in food technology differ. Sugar acts not only as a sweetener but also as a preservative and texture modifier, plus various other functions. Neotame, however, primarily serves as a sweetener and does not possess the additional functions that sugar provides. Neotame is stable at high temperatures and can be found in a wide range of products, including baked goods, beverages, candies, chewing gum, juices, carbonated drinks, and frozen desserts.
When it comes to taste, sugar is widely regarded as the benchmark for sweetness. Its clean and pleasant sweetness is immediate, without leaving any lingering or secondary flavors. Neotame offers a similar sweet taste but with a slight licorice aftertaste.
Are Neotame and Sugar Substitutes for Each Other?
Neotame is created by N-alkylating aspartame. Its level of sweetness depends on the food type and blend composition. Neotame is significantly sweeter than both sugar and aspartame, being approximately 7000-13,000 times and 30-60 times sweeter, respectively. It does not make a good substitute for sugar unless used to sweeten a beverage.
Nutritional Profile And Health Benefits
Table sugar (granulated sugar, sucrose) (2 tsp.)
- Calories: 30
- Total carbs: 8 g
- Sugars: 8 g
- GI: 65
Neotame
- Calories: 0
- Total carbs: 0 g
- Sugars: 0 g
- GI: 0
Neotame and sugar have distinct health effects when consumed. Sugar, which is a simple carbohydrate, serves as a quick source of energy in the form of glucose for the body. Glucose is vital for the proper functioning of cells, tissues, and organs.
Neotame has undergone evaluation to ensure safety by both international and national health authorities. Despite its structural similarity to aspartame, neotame has limited potential for the release of phenylalanine. This characteristic is especially beneficial for individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) since they can safely enjoy neotame without any concerns.
Diet Suitability
Both neotame and sugar have different diet suitability considerations. While neotame is vegan-friendly and technically keto-friendly, it is not Whole30-approved or paleo. On the other hand, sugar, despite not being an animal product, is not considered vegan due to its refining process involving bone char. It is also not keto-friendly, paleo-friendly, or Whole30-friendly. The paleo diet, which emphasizes natural and unprocessed foods, does not support the consumption of neotame as it is an artificial sweetener and highly refined.
How to Store Neotame and Sugar
For optimal storage, sugars are recommended to be kept at room temperature in a tightly sealed container. When stored under favorable and dry conditions, neotame can retain its quality for approximately 5 years and sugar for at least 2.
Price and Availability
Sugar is priced as low as 25 cents per pound. Neotame, which is not commonly used in home cooking but is utilized in commercial food production, is not available in supermarkets. However, you can purchase it online at approximately $40 for a 25-gram bag, equivalent to $1.60 per gram.
Environmental Impact
The environmental impact of burning sugarcane is significant, primarily due to air pollution caused by the emissions of toxic and hazardous substances. Interestingly, artificial sweeteners such as neotame offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to sugar. When compared to sucrose (ordinary sugar), neotame has an environmental impact that is only 0.4-0.7%. This means that using neotame as a sugar substitute can significantly decrease the overall ecological footprint associated with sweetness. Similarly, aspartame, another artificial sweetener, has an impact of 10.5-18.4% compared to sucrose.
However, artificial sweeteners do come with environmental concerns. When it comes to neotame and other fake sugars, UVA radiation aids in their decomposition, which contributes to sweetener pollution. This pollution has been found to harm aquatic life, with algae and water fleas being the first to experience damage from sweetener residues. This damage then cascades up the food chain, impacting larger sea animals.
Neotame vs. Sugar: The Ultimate Verdict
I honestly do not like neotame and the aftertaste, and the fact that it cannot be used in baking because it is too hard to measure. I’ll take sugar any day, and if I need to be on a low-sugar diet, then I’d rather use stevia or monk fruit sweetener as an alternative.
FAQs
Only really in beverages. Neotame packs a powerful punch as it is 7000 to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar, so it is hard to bake or cook with.
A few things: The excessively sweet taste of it poses challenges with dosing. Its origins from aspartame evoke negative connotations. It exhibits a delayed onset of sweetness compared to sugar while also leaving a licorice sensation on the palate longer than sugar does.
Erythritol is often perceived as having a remarkably similar taste to sugar, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Furthermore, it exhibits the ability to caramelize just like its sugary counterpart.
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