What is Agave Nectar?
Organic Agave Nectar is a natural fructose sweetener extracted from
Mexico's Agave plant.
Traditionally, the Aztecs (an ancient tribe of pre-hispanic Mexico)
gathered the sweet juice, "aguamiel", from various varieties of Agave. They used
it as a sweetener and for special celebratory beverages.
Nekutli in náhuatl
language means "The Sacred Juice of Agave".
Some Agave contain a high level of polyfructose or inulin. A gentle enzymatic
process has been developed which transforms the polyfructose into a simple
fructose and dextrose syrup, the pure natural sweetener called Agave Nectar.
Agave Nectar is considered one of the best natural sweeteners. Agave Nectar is a
pure and delicious alternative to sugar. It is sweeter than sugar and has a
lower Glycemic Index. Agave
nectar has the added benefit of a long shelf-life (approximately 18 months)
without refrigeration or crystallizing. You can use Agave Nectar to sweeten tea,
coffee and lemonade, just to name a few. Many people use Agave Nectar as a sugar
substitute for all of their cooking needs.
Our organic Agave Nectar is a moisture retainer. In bread
and baked goods, it enhances product freshness due to its hygroscopic
properties, which act as humidifying agents. Use 2/3 cup of Agave Nectar in lieu
of a cup of sugar. When using Agave Nectar for baking, you should also reduce
you oil by half and the liquid as 1/3 less. Reduce your oven temperature by
25°C.
Our organic Agave Nectar is extracted naturally from the core of agave plant.
Similar as a bee produces honey, it is through enzymatic action that the complex
sugars in fresh agave juice are converted into simple sugars, producing Agave
Nectar. The nectar is then finely filtered. The temperature in the entire
process never exceeds 115 degrees F (46°C). This minimal processing and minimal
heat preserves vitamins, minerals and enzymes in Agave Nectar that are not found
in other processed sweeteners.