All About Agave
We get a lot of questions about agave nectar and what to do with it.
Agave nectar is primarily fructose and is refined from natural plant sources. It's not a "health food" to be used with abandon - but it is a substitute for other sugars and it dissolves very well in cold liquids. In the past it was called a low-glycemic index sweetener, but nowadays there is controversy around it, claiming that the refining process makes it no better than high fructose corn syrup. Research has shown that fructose can increase blood sugar similarly to glucose.
That said, use it as you would honey or any other sweetener. It is very sweet, so you will find that you will not need much of it.
It's great in tea or coffee, great on top of pancakes or French Toast, great drizzled on desserts or yogurt, or even used in baked goods. My favorite feature of agave nectar is that it will dissolve well in cold liquids as well as in hot, so I use it in cold drinks (iced tea, lemonade) or cocktails (Margaritas, champagne cocktails) as needed.
Other tidbits: Agave nectar is vegan, so it's a good substitute for vegans that choose not to eat honey. It also has a long shelf life—it won't crystallize like honey.
Categories: Product Reviews, Vegetarian and Vegan , Favorite Products
thanks for the info -- does it have a taste, like honey? i'm definitely going to try it.
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The TJ agave nectar doesn't have much of a taste--just sweet. And no funny aftertaste or artificial taste that other sweeteners have. There is an amber variety of agave nectar available at other stores that has more of a "honey" taste.
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I just bought a bottle of this at TJs since I'm trying to cut back on processed sugar, and was not really sure how to use it---thx for the tips!
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Highly recommended for use with fresh lime juice in making margaritas:
2 teaspoons agave syrup
4.5 ounces tequila
1.5 ounces triple sec
4.5 ounces fresh squeezed lime juice
2/3 cup crushed ice
Combine in a shaker. Serve over crushed ice in an appropriate glass with or without salted rim.
This margarita recipe is much better than using commercial margarita mixes, which are usually made with corn sweeteners, or even fresh lime juice margaritas made with traditional bartenders' cane sugar simple syrup.
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Anyone have any recipes for goodies? I would appreciate seeing them posted here. Thanks.
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Can you tell me what percentage of fructose and glucose is in your agave? I'm told it can vary from 55% to 90%.
Thanks
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Hi Lynn,
Please use this form http://www.traderjoes.com/about/product-information-form.asp to ask Trader Joe's corporate offices directly. Hopefully they can answer your question.
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