This Sweetener is a Natural Sugar

Natural sugars are found naturally in foods such as fruit (fructose) and milk (lactose) and some vegetables. Monk fruit is a small round fruit native to southern China, where it has been cultivated for over 800 years and traditionally used in herbal medicine. The fruit contains natural sugars of fructose and glucose. The antioxidant mogroside V is what gives monk fruit its intense sweetness – up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. Mogroside V is separated from the pressed juice of the fruit through extraction and purification processes, so in turn, this sweetener does not contain fructose or glucose.

It’s a Non-nutritive Sweetener

Non-nutritive sweeteners have little-to-no calories or nutrients. Monk fruit is typically less refined but may be sold containing other ingredients like erythritol or dextrose as bulking agents. When monk fruit granules are mixed with other sweeteners or fillers, they become more processed. Only use the most pure form of the extract for maximum benefits. This sweetener has zero calories, zero carbs, and zero side effects, and it doesn’t raise blood glucose levels, making it suitable for diabetics and those following ketogenic diets.

Inside and Out

Monk fruit sweetener is very sweet and has a coarse, sugar-like consistency. It is not metabolized by human enzymes, so it does not raise blood sugar or insulin levels. Mogrosides are not absorbed in the small intestine and do not contribute any calories. When they reach the large intestine, gut microbes split off the glucose molecules and use them as an energy source.

Put it to Good Use

Monk fruit is roughly 200-300 times as sweet as table sugar, so you have to adjust recipes significantly to reduce the sweetness – typically using just 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon per cup of sugar replaced. When making creamy desserts, such as cheesecake and custards, it’s best to powder the granules before adding them to your other ingredients to ensure even distribution and prevent grittiness.

The liquid form dissolves quickly and is best for adding to cold and hot drinks. Four drops is the equivalent of 1/2 tsp of sugar.