Are Agave Or Sugar Sweeteners Better?

The agave plant native to Mexico is similar to an aloe vera plant. Its liquid internal contents, or nectar, provide a sweet honey-like texture and flavor. The product, agave syrup, introduced on the market in the early 2000s, has many people wondering how it compares in flavor and quality to standard sugar. The products have differences that make one more appropriate than the other for particular culinary applications.

Agave vs. Sugar

Agave nectar sweetens beverages and foods similarly to sugar, but the flavor more closely resembles honey. It comes in a light, purified version or a dark, more natural syrup. The lighter syrup has a versatile flavor that blends more easily and may substitute for sugar more readily. The darker syrup tastes stronger and complements foods and beverages that require a flavor similar to honey.

Glycemic Index and Calories

The glycemic index of agave syrup is lower than sugar, which is positive news for diabetics and people with other types of blood sugar irregularities. The glycemic index is a method for assigning a score to food that indicates the impact it has on raising blood sugar after consumption. Table sugar is the constant and has a score of 100. The glycemic index of agave is about 30, according to the website All About Agave. Substituting agave for sugar may be beneficial for regulating blood sugar in some cases. The calorie content of agave and sugar are approximately equivalent.

Baking

The light brown color and crispy, caramelized texture that results from baking cakes, cupcakes, muffins and other baked goods is one of the advantages of using sugar to bake with. Agave does not caramelize like sugar. It also reduces the rising potential of baked goods. If the advantage of balancing blood sugar outweighs the disadvantages of baking inconsistencies, take steps to mitigate agave's baking weaknesses. Use a smaller baking pan, which forces the batter to rise higher, and bake dishes in the top one-third of the oven where the heat accumulates and more readily crisps the outside layer.

Foods and Beverages

Include agave in particular foods and beverages that benefit from its flavor and cooking characteristics. Add it to tea in place of honey. Include it in smoothies to soften the tangy flavor of yogurt. Drizzle it on fruit for a quick dessert. It also sweetens cocktails, such as mojitos made with lime juice and rum.