Who doesn’t love sugar? After all, it is known to stimulate the pleasure centers of our brains, causing a sense of well-being. Refined cane sugar has its time and place in moderation, but today dozens of alternative sweeteners are available to us. Whether you’re looking for a low-glycemic, low-calorie, or all-natural option, or simply interested in exploring some new flavors outside of regular old table sugar, you’ll find something sweet on our shelves worth checking out! Below you’ll find a sampling of products we offer, separated into Nutritive and Non-Nutritive, which indicates whether they contain calories or not, as opposed to how healthful they are. (Learn more here.) Let us know which is your go-to sweetener in the comments below!

Non-nutritive Sweeteners

Monkfruit

• Comes from a small round fruit native to southern China
• Also known as lo han guo or Swingle fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii)
• Zero calories, zero glycemic index, 200 times sweeter than sugar

Stevia

• Comes from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) plant, native to South America. 
• Made by extracting and purifying steviol glycosides from the leaves of the plant
• Zero calories, zero carbs, zero glycemic index, 300 times sweeter than sugar

Erythritol

• Made by fermenting glucose with Moniliella pollinis, a natural microorganism. 
• Naturally occurs in some fruits and vegetables including melons and grapes.
• Swerve brand combines erythritol with oligosaccharides in their sweetener. Oligosaccharides are prebiotic fibers sourced from fruits and starchy root vegetables. 
• Zero-calorie sugar alcohol that does not affect blood glucose, zero glycemic index, less sweet than sugar

Nutritive Sweeteners

Allulose

• Produced commercially from corn, and exists in nature in small quantities in wheat, jackfruit, figs, and raisins, as well as maple syrup and brown sugar
• Clean taste
• It is a monosaccharide (carbohydrate sweetener) which is not metabolized by the body, making it low-calorie

Xylitol

• Found in small amounts in many fruits and vegetables. It can be processed from trees like birch or from a plant fiber called xylan.
• Beneficial for dental health
• Low-calorie sugar alcohol, low glycemic index

Agave Syrup

• Derived from the agave plant, native to Latin America and the southern USA (Same plant used to make tequila)
• After growing for 5 to 7 years, farmers hand-harvest blue agave, which is then crushed and its carbohydrate- and inulin-rich juice is collected. The agave juice is exposed to different levels of heat to convert the inulin into a fructose and glucose.
• Made up of 75% fructose, 20% glucose, and 5% inulin
• Low glycemic index

Coconut Palm Sugar

• Derived from the nectar of the coconut blossom. 
• The nectar is boiled to remove water, leaving coconut sugar. 
• Made up of 80% sucrose along with glucose and fructose
• Low glycemic index

Date syrup

• Made with California medjool dates. 
• Contains magnesium, potassium, and other key vitamins
• Rich in antioxidants
• Delicious unique flavor
• Low glycemic index

Honey

• Made by honey bees! Look for raw options (no heat, filters, or strainers) or strained seasonal honey from local suppliers
• Purchasing from local honey suppliers means promoting the health of pollinators and agriculture in our area
• You’ll find plenty of local brands on our shelves, including Swarmbustin’ and Wild Creek Bee Farm
• Classic, unbeatable flavor

Maple Syrup, Maple Sugar

• Unrefined
• Made from the sap of sugar maple trees 
• Purchase real maple syrup from small family farms and coops who are committed to environmental stewardship and sustainable forestry management, such as Coombs and Rocky Ridge
• Contains nutrients and antioxidants 
• Real maple syrup is Grade A and comes in four classifications. Learn more here

Unsulphured Molasses

• Blackstrap molasses is a byproduct of the sugar cane refining process
• A good source of vitamins and minerals including iron, vitamin B6, potassium, calcium and magnesium
• Full-bodied robust flavor that adds unique color and flavor to baked goods

Brown Rice Syrup

• Made with whole grain brown rice 
• A more delicate sweet flavor than honey or maple syrup
• Contains maltotriose, maltose and glucose
• Many brands are low-glycemic
• Try it in this recipe for Vegan Crispy Bars