I have a confession to make. I have a sweet tooth! While I try to keep it in check most of the time, sometimes I just need something sweet to satisfy. I’m not too picky either. It can be ANY baked sweet I’m a sucker for all that stuff, cookies, brownies, you name it! It can be something as simple as a piece of toast with peanut butter and and Agave, or some yogurt swirled with Agave and a handful of granola. Wait? Agave? Who hasn’t heard of this wonderful stuff? I’ve been using agave nectar as a sweetener for a couple of years now.
It is similar to honey in color and texture, although slightly runnier no need to worry about it thickening up and not pouring out of the bottle. It also has a taste that is reminiscent to honey, but not quite similar. I actually prefer it over honey because it isn’t as sweet. Agave can be used instead of any sweetener in all your baked goods too! Recently, I was generously given the opportunity to try out some agave from a great company called Xagave. Their agave nectar is different from any other on the market. Unlike most brands, Xagave uses blue and white agave nectar for their product.
The result is a sweetener that has a very neutral taste… if you are familiar with agave, you will know that not all agave tastes the same. I LOVE the taste of Xagave! It is mild and smooth. Something really great is that Xagave is that it is sweeter than sugar, so you can use about 50% less in your baking that you normally would of sugar. This ends up saving calories now who doesn’t like that? At last!! A way to have my sweets and not feel so bad about them? Yes please!!! Xagave also has fiber in it, which aids in digestion. And it also has 17% of the daily calcium you need in one serving! It is also processed at super low temperature, so it is considered a “raw” food.
Here are some of the great things about Xagave:
Saves Calories.
Xagave can be used in all of your favorite recipes. Typically, you will substitute 1/2 cup for every cup of sugar called for. Thus, saving between 25 to 40% in carbohydrate calories. In addition, the inulin (a pre-biotic fiber) permits the reduction of fats in baked items which significantly reduces calories even further.
Tastes Delicious.
Xagave is a great-tasting, natural sweetener. It is even being used by restaurants in beverages and sauces and is preferred over sugar. The neutral sweet taste does not impart any other flavors to your cooking unlike other nectars and it has even been teenage-tested in Kool-Aid, Zucchini Bread and numerous other recipes without detection or rejection. Xagave allows switching to a healthier diet feel “normal” compared with other sweetening options. Finally a sugar substitute without strange aftertastes!
Low Glycemic Index.
Xagave is a very low glycemic index food. It is approximately 30 on the glycemic index scale. Anything below 50 is considered to be in the low category, which is recommended for a healthy diet. This low glycemic index rating also make it diabetic friendly.
Contains Inulin, a Prebiotic Fiber.
Studies have shown Inulin, a prebiotic fiber, promotes the healthy function of your lower intestine. It has also been shown to promote regularity, boost the immune system, increase calcium absorption and increase bone density.
More Satisfying and Great for Dieters.
The combination of low GI and inulin make Xagave a very satisfying sweetener. Unlike sugar, honey or high fructose corn syrup, you’ll find your blood sugar levels do not spike; thereby avoiding the highs and lows of sugar and corresponding cravings and over consumption associated with roller coaster blood sugar levels.
Versatile and Easy to Cook With.
Xagave is highly soluable in hot or cold water, making it easy to work with in the kitchen. It is a wonderful sweetener for coffee, tea and cereal. It is also an amazing sweetener for cooking, canning and baking as evidenced by the highly-rated recipes in our cookbook “Delicious Meets Nutritious” for jams, cakes, breads, salad dressing, desserts, cookies and sauces. In addition, we provide on each bottle, our cookbook, and on our website a Sugar Exchange Table that shows how to use Xagave in any recipe — it truly is the Complete Sugar Replacement™.
Contains Calcium, Iron and other Vitamins and Minerals.
Xagave is a natural and organic certified product, derived from the agave plant. The nectar is processed, in order to prevent fermentation, at temperatures that do not exceed 117°F which is considered “Raw” by most standards. It is not derived from an animal and is appropriate for a vegan diet. Due to its raw condition, Xagave retains its naturally occurring vitamins and minerals and has a particularly high concentration of calcium — 17% of daily requirements in one (1) tablespoon. There are so many great ways to use Xagave… I just spent half an hour going over the recipes the company website has…I’m totally drooling! I’m especially looking forward to using it for canning peaches next month! Xagave is a great way to get more health benefits out of your sweetener, and to feel good about what you are eating! It’s the sweetener that gives back! Thanks Xagave!
