Agave nectar is a fructose sweetener that comes from the blue agave plant, the same plant that is used to make tequila. It is grown in semi-arid, desert plains common to Mexican and South American regions, where it has been used for decades.
Super Sweet Agave Syrup!
Agave syrup is sweet (like that of raw honey), but offers a balance in quality compared to refined sweeteners. It's sweetness comes from the natural fruit sugar (fructose) present in it's leafy core. It is time released into the body as opposed to the highly processed high fructose syrups that cause intense blood sugar fluctuations.
(CAUTION: Some low quality agave brands are processed in a way that increases the glycemic index significantly. Find out more about the best source of agave sweeteners.)
For this reason, there has been some controversy as to agave's health attributes, so it is important to know what to look for as far as quality goes. Click the above link to learn more from the research we've found!
Taste and Use:
I think the taste is a cross between maple syrup and honey. Agave also can be extracted from other varieties beside the blue agave plant, but the quality is considerably lower.
We have found that we like to use agave when we are extremely physically active on long hikes or working out on labor intensive projects.
Agave's glycemic index is usually about 11-19, which establishes it as a low glucose content sweetener. But, like we said, it depends on the brand!!
The serving size of 1T = 20 calories is usually adequate in most shake and smoothie recipes or use less, but mix with other sweeteners like we suggest.
Agave syrup usually comes in a light and also darker color. The light syrup is less processed than the dark, but the best and only agave syrup we would use is actually "clear".
In ancient Mexican tradition it was believed that agave nectar hydrated the body and purified the soul!
