A Brief Guide to Natural Sweeteners
Sugar has played an integral role in modern cooking, no matter the cuisine. It adds more flavor and improves the overall taste of food. However, science reveals that vast amounts of sugar in our daily diets contribute to heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and even cancer. As a result, professionals in the commercial food industry are now turning to natural sweeteners in preparing their menus.
Today, sweetening agents obtained from natural ingredients such as plants, fruits, and honey are fast growing in popularity. As more consumers are becoming aware of the benefits of cutting sugar from diets, natural sweeteners are enjoying a massive comeback in recent years. Listed below are some examples.
Fruit sweeteners
Fruit concentrate comes from extracting all the delicious components of fruit by removing up to 90% water. As fruits contain natural sugars, they can add sweetness to desserts, beverages, and cocktails. Some of the most common juice concentrates used in commercial kitchens include apple, peach, pear, pineapple, and many more. The thick syrupy consistency of fruit concentrates makes them an excellent ingredient in creating baked goods such as cakes, cupcakes, and other pastries.
Barley malt syrup
Barley malt syrup comes from sprouted whole barley, whose carbohydrates are broken down into simple maltose. Sprouted barley is then grounded and heated until the mixture develops into a thick syrup. This natural sweetener consists of 65% maltose and 30% complex carbohydrate. It is being used as an alternative sweetener for recipes that typically require brown sugar. Restaurants and cafes use barley malt syrup for tasty breakfast items such as bread, cookies, muffins, pancakes, and many more.
Brown rice syrup
This natural sweetening agent is made from sprouted whole barley and fermented brown rice. Like barley malt syrup, brown rice syrup is also grounded and heated until it develops thick syrup. The resulting mixture consists of 50% maltose and 37% complex carbohydrate. The subtle sweetness of brown rice syrup makes it an excellent substitute for brown and white sugar.
Granulated cane juice
Organic sugar cane that has been dried and filtered produce granulated cane juice, with a taste profile similar to brown or turbinado sugar. While it is less refined than regular sugar, granulated cane juice contains more nutrients. Due to its brown colour, this natural sweetener is used by bakers to create cakes, frostings, meringues, and many more.
Honey
Honey has been around for many centuries and still stands as one of the best natural sweeteners. It comes from the mixture of acid secretions produced by honeybees and nectar coming from flowers and plants. While honey is naturally sourced, it is considered refined sugar as sucrose is already broken down into simple sugars inside the bee's stomach. It's a highly versatile sweetening agent, which can be used in beverages, baking goods, toppings, and even in preparing hot meals.
Bottom line
Restaurant owners switch to natural sweeteners to ensure the food they serve addresses the consumers' health concerns. Whether an establishment uses white sugar or a natural sweetening agent, the key to serving wholesome, delicious food is moderation in their use.
