Thoughts on agave?

[kellybethx3]

I don't think that it is raw, but I was wondering what everyone else thinks. I have dont a lot of research on it and still haven't really gotten straight answers because it seems to be a big debate. I looked up one recommended "raw" agave but they said they heated it to 138 degrees so I don't know.. :confused:

Also is there any similar sweeteners? I use yacon syrup but it has a noticable flavor in some things. I'm vegan so I don't use honey either. I know I could also use dates, but they don't work in every recipe that calls for honey or agave.

[SunshineMN]

Have you tried stevia at all? We usually get powdered stevia and use it to sweeten our tea. I've been thinking of maybe trying xylitol but I need to research if it is heated or not. I'm not even sure if the stevia is heat treated but it doesn't affect my blood sugar so that makes me happy.

[kellybethx3]

Yes, I do use stevia but it doesn't work in recipes like honey or agave does. I need a liquid sweetener, and stevia can be liquid but it also have a flavor that isnt anything like honey or agave.

[DebB]

I honestly don't know whether it's raw or not and I'm not too concerned one way or the other (just being honest). I have cut back on the amount I use after the hot debate about it being as bas as, if not worse then high fructose corn syrup. But, I still keep it on hand and do use it for certain recipes and will continue to use it in small amounts. *Ü*

[kellybethx3]

I might also do that, but I was hoping to get rid of it completely. ):

[Tenuviel]

I don't really know the deal with agave.... it does make my father's blood sugar spike, but there are also other factors going on with him. Now I use little sweetner, occasionally I'll get the coconut crystal sugar, or just use a couple dates. I don't buy the coconut sugar often as it is rather expensive... (doesn't taste like coconut by the way ;) ) I hear there is a liquid coconut sweetner also, but haven't used it.

[kellybethx3]

oooo maybe ill try to find the coconut sweetener!

[michigan roman]

- ive seen some smart rawfoodies i respect not like agave

- it mainly comes in plastic bottles which i dont like

- pure maple syrups a whole vegan simply proccesed item (just boiled tree sap) that i can buy in glass (healthier container) and tastes like 10,000,000 times better to me than agave or anything else

- so i use pure maple syrup in my nut and seed milks which is only place i use sweetners

[RawFoodieCutie]

I use the coconut secret syrup occasionally. only complaint is its really really annoying when it comes to pouring because then it gets stringy but it substitute agave just fine.
I'm personally not concerned whether agave is raw either, i use maple syrup sometimes to but I'm not 100% raw.
I recomend making date paste which you can thin out but coconut secret syrup is your best bet other then that for 100%raw and good for blood sugar:)

[Bananna]

I also use maple syrup. ...if I did use agave it would be sparingly due to the plastic storage and also since it is a high fructose syrup. I just discovered that honey also has a lot of fructose...refined fructose, straight up isn't good.

Maple syrup rocks...but then, I'm Canadian, lol.

[Maria75]

Try raw stevia !!!! Natural plant !!!!

[BeingK8]

I just discovered that honey also has a lot of fructose...refined fructose, straight up isn't good.



Can you clarify what you're saying here? I might just be dense (oh wait, I am! LOL! So forgive me for all of this) but I don't get it...straight up honey isn't good? I don't use much honey at all, but I'm still curious and love to know what others have found, read, experienced about anything and everything.

[sport]

I would agree that date paste would be the preferred option.

[RighteousYogini]

Have you tried stevia at all? We usually get powdered stevia and use it to sweeten our tea. I've been thinking of maybe trying xylitol but I need to research if it is heated or not. I'm not even sure if the stevia is heat treated but it doesn't affect my blood sugar so that makes me happy.

From my experience xylitol is awful! It really hurt my stomach.......

[RighteousYogini]

I also use maple syrup. ...if I did use agave it would be sparingly due to the plastic storage and also since it is a high fructose syrup. I just discovered that honey also has a lot of fructose...refined fructose, straight up isn't good.

Maple syrup rocks...but then, I'm Canadian, lol.

Another Canadian, yippee!! Where ya from Bananna? Im in Ottawa...... okay so I just posted a question on Honey....now Im reading all of this on agave, despite that most raw food recipes I've read USE agave for their desserts. So whats the deal? Raw? Not raw? And so is maple syrup raw? Heloooooooooooo pancake time!

[kellybethx3]

thanks for all the advice! (:

[speltrong]

We use agave, and there are several brands that my local supermarket carries that say right on the label that they are raw. The raw versions are usually a bit darker in color, and in my opinion have a lot more flavor than the not raw versions. If your market doesn't carry them, dates are a great option... I was just eating a date the other night and it tasted exactly like brown sugar to me.

[kellybethx3]

yess i loove dates (:!

[BeingK8]

This thread really got me interested, especially when DebB brought up the fructose part and a very quick google search brought this article up. Obviously well SEO'd, because it was the first choice, it's an interesting read and really makes me want to investigate further because I was using it in things for my kids kind of frequently. I just convinced myself that the plastic storage issue less offensive than some other things I could have been choosing to give them. Looks like I was wrong! Glad to learn now.

And Speltstrong, particularly because you're in the same boat I was on the whole, "raw" aspect of it, you might be interested to check it out, especially! I was thinking, "Well, it's raw, so that's gotta account for something!" After the quick search and the few articles I read, the cons have outweighed the pro of "raw" for me now.

Lots of love everyone! Thanks Kelly, for starting the thread!

http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/

[speltrong]

Wow, interesting article! I think I am going to dig out my bottle of agave and email the company to ask them how they create the agave nectar and keep it all natural and raw. It will be interesting to see what they say!

[rita3212]

I don't think that it is raw, but I was wondering what everyone else thinks. I have dont a lot of research on it and still haven't really gotten straight answers because it seems to be a big debate. I looked up one recommended "raw" agave but they said they heated it to 138 degrees so I don't know.. :confused:

Also is there any similar sweeteners? I use yacon syrup but it has a noticable flavor in some things. I'm vegan so I don't use honey either. I know I could also use dates, but they don't work in every recipe that calls for honey or agave.

Recently I posted a question on here asking about how long dates should be soaked. What I found out from the experience is that if stored properly in a glass container with a tight lid dates can be soaked for a month or more( I used a Mason Jar). While soaking they make the soak water very sweet, and it can be used as a sweetener. I had my dates in soak for over a month and I'm still using them just fine. I have used the liquid in them a few times to sweeten smoothies. The soak water turns brown, and kinda looks like agave. Maybe you can try this and use the soak water as your sweetener.

[kellybethx3]

That sounds like a great idea! Thanks ! :D

[holistica]

I just started using this stuff when I gave up honey:

http://myojio.com/

It tastes better than the brown agave in the plastic bottle, is uncooked, and sweetens without overpowering. I've been making my raw fudge with it instead of honey, and I think it's much better. The honey made my fudge taste like a chocolate Power Bar.