Agave is a natural sweetener that comes in a liquid form similar to honey. People eating a vegan-based diet often use agave as a replacement for honey because of its similar flavor and consistency. The uses for agave nectar go beyond a replacement for honey. Agave nectar can be used as an alternative to traditional white and brown sugar. Using agave nectar to replace these more traditional sweeteners can slightly change the nutritional makeup of your food.
Specifics
Agave has been used in native societies in Mexico for many centuries as a sweetener and as a healing ointment. Agave is thought to have anti-bacteria properties that can heal wounds and fight off infections. This sweetener, from the agave cactus, is a common ingredient found in tequila. A range of agave nectar varieties are available to consumers and you can easily find organic varieties of agave. When baking with agave nectar, it is important to be aware that agave will burn more quickly than traditional sugars and should be cooked at lower temperatures. Decrease your recipe temperatures by about 25 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid burning. Also, some recipes require chemical reactions that result from the use of traditional sugar, therefore making it harder to replace the sugar in those recipes with agave nectar.
Sweetness
Agave nectar is sweeter than sugar making it possible for you to use less and get the same satisfying sweet flavor. Agave nectar is about two times as sweet as sugar. The calories in a serving of traditional white sugar and agave nectar are the same, but because of the sweeter flavor in agave nectar, you can use less, decreasing the amount you need.
Low-Glycemic Index
Unlike traditional white sugar, agave nectar has a low-glycemic index. The glycemic index is related to the effect a food has on your blood sugar levels. Traditional white sugar has a high-glycemic index because it is quickly used by your body, causing your blood sugar levels to quickly rise and then fall. Agave nectar, on the other hand, will not cause quick rises and falls in your blood sugar levels because it has a low-glycemic index; instead, agave will be slowly used by your body.
Calories
According to the The Colibree Company, which makes a brand of agave nectar, a 1 tbsp. serving of agave nectar has 60 calories. These calories come from the 16 g of carbohydrates contained in the serving. The calorie makeup in agave nectar is similar to sugar, but because of the sweetness of agave you will need smaller amounts of agave nectar, resulting in fewer calories consumed overall.
Free of Bone Char
Some traditional white sugars go through a filtering processes that uses animal bone-based charcoal. Agave nectar is free of this filtering process, making it free of all animal byproducts and suitable for people on a vegan diet.
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