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How Do I Choose the Best Yacon Syrup?

Jennifer Voight
Jennifer Voight

Although yacon syrup has been used in South America for thousands of years, syrup made from this naturally sweet tuber is still relatively new to the rest of the world. As a result, the syrup is still rather difficult to find except in some natural grocery stores and health food stores. This makes it expensive to buy, and it must often be purchased from online retailers. To choose the best yacon syrup from an online retailer, select a reputable retailer who packages the shipped product well, because yacon comes in glass jars that can break during shipment. When buying directly from a brick-and-mortar retailer, yacon syrup can be selected solely on price per ounce.

Yacon syrup is derived from the tuberous root of a plant that grows in the Andes Mountains. It can be used as an alternative to molasses or honey and is often lauded for its negligible impact on blood sugar levels and for its antioxidant and prebiotic properties. As it is just becoming popular with health-conscious consumers who are looking for alternatives to other sugars, it has not entered mainstream consciousness yet. This makes yacon syrup expensive to obtain. Although it is sometimes available locally, most people find they need to order it through online retailers.

Yacon syrup is derived from the tuberous root of the Yacon plant that grows in the Andes Mountains.
Yacon syrup is derived from the tuberous root of the Yacon plant that grows in the Andes Mountains.

It’s best to purchase this syrup only through a retailer who has a reputation for quality products. Online reviews are a good way to determine past customer satisfaction. If a natural products retailer does not make a good product, word can spread quickly through the online community. Company websites can give a good picture of how long a company has been in business and communicate business philosophies.

Yacon syrup does not raise blood sugar levels.
Yacon syrup does not raise blood sugar levels.

Yacon syrup is sold in glass bottles. When ordering through an online retailer, it’s a good idea to contact the company to ask how the product will be shipped. This will prevent breakage of the glass bottles during transit. Once a good retailer is located, it can be useful to sign up for email updates, because many companies will send coupons and notifications of sales. Combining sales and coupons can save consumers quite a bit of money when purchasing the syrup online.

Customers fortunate enough to have access to yacon syrup in local stores can save money on shipping costs and take advantage of store sales. Different brands of yacon syrup do not vary much in quality or taste according to consumer reviews, so choosing the best syrup may be as simple as buying the cheapest. Prices can vary widely, so it’s wise to compare.

Discussion Comments

discographer

Yacon syrup is being talked about a lot as a super-food that can help with digestion and weight loss. I think it can be a good alternative for other less healthy sweeteners. But it's still a sugar, and I doubt that sugar in any form is beneficial in the long-term.

That being said, my customers have asked me to supply yacon syrup in my health market, so I buy it. I just buy the cheapest organic syrup because it's a very expensive product.

turquoise

@SarahGen-- I don't think that every yacon syrup product is the same. I'm using organic, raw yacon syrup. So I'm assuming that there are non-organic and processed ones on the market. If you can find the organic version, I do recommend it. It tastes very good.

I haven't tried yacon syrup in everything yet, but I have used it for cookies and on top of pancakes. It worked great in both cases. It has a thick, typical syrup texture. So you can use it like you would any other syrup.

I think that yacon has a slightly molasses like taste. So it might be off-putting in some recipes if too much is used. I'm still experimenting with it. It's a new ingredient for most of us, but we'll figure out how to use it in time.

SarahGen

So yacon syrup is all the same? Can I use yacon syrup in all recipes that call for sugar or honey?

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    • Yacon syrup is derived from the tuberous root of the Yacon plant that grows in the Andes Mountains.
      By: Irene Tobón
      Yacon syrup is derived from the tuberous root of the Yacon plant that grows in the Andes Mountains.
    • Yacon syrup does not raise blood sugar levels.
      By: Monkey Business
      Yacon syrup does not raise blood sugar levels.