Monk fruit sweetener, also known as siraitia grosvenorii or Luo Han Guo, is a natural sweetener derived from the monk fruit, which is a small round fruit native to Southeast Asia. But is it vegan friendly? Let’s find out.
In this post, we’re going to examine the Monk Fruit sweetener ingredients to determine if it is suitable for vegans.
The exact ingredients of a particular brand of monk fruit sweetener can vary, but the basic process of producing the extract from the monk fruit and blending it with other ingredients remains the same.
In general, the Monk fruit sweetener is made by extracting the juice from the fruit and then removing the water, leaving behind a concentrated sweet extract.
This extract is then blended with other ingredients, such as erythritol, dextrose, or maltodextrin, to create a final product that is similar in texture and sweetness to sugar.
Is Monk Fruit Sweetener Vegan?
Yes, monk fruit sweetener is typically vegan-friendly. It is made from the extract of the monk fruit, which is a type of melon, and does not contain any animal products.
Some brands may use additional ingredients such as erythritol, dextrose, or maltodextrin, which are also typically vegan-friendly.
But it is always best to check the label of the specific brand of monk fruit sweetener to ensure that it meets your specific dietary requirements.
If you are following a strict vegan diet, you may also want to look for brands that are certified vegan by a recognized organization.
Is Monk Fruit a Good Sweetener?
Monk fruit sweetener is considered a low-calorie sweetener, as it contains very little calories and has a much lower glycemic index compared to sugar.
It is also a non-glycemic sweetener, meaning it does not raise blood sugar levels and is therefore safe for people with diabetes to use.
One of the benefits of monk fruit sweetener is that it is much sweeter than sugar, so you can use less of it to achieve the same level of sweetness.
This makes it a great alternative to sugar for people who are trying to reduce their caloric intake or avoid high-calorie sweeteners.
Additionally, some people find that monk fruit sweetener has a more natural and subtle sweetness compared to other artificial sweeteners.
Here’s a list of the popular brand of Monk fruit sweeteners.
Monk Fruit Sweetener Brands:
There are several brands that offer monk fruit sweetener products. Some of the most popular ones include:
Lakanto:
This brand offers several different products made from monk fruit extract, including granulated sweeteners, liquid sweeteners, and baking blends.
SweetLeaf:
SweetLeaf offers several different sweeteners including granulated sweeteners, liquid sweeteners, and stevia blends.
NuNaturals:
NuNaturals Pure Monk Fruit Sweetener is concentrated form of Monk Fruit. Unlike other brands, their Monk Fruit Powder includes only one ingredient: Monk fruit extract!
Pyure Organic :
Pyure Organic Monk Fruit Sweetener offers the same taste, texture, and feel as traditional sugar without the added calories or carbohydrates. This sugar substitute is super sweet so a little bit goes a long way! No bitterness or aftertaste
So Nourished:
So Nourished granular monk fruit blend just as you would sugar in cooking, baking and sweetening drinks like tea and coffee.
Their sweetener is just as sweet as sugar and their flavors are very similar. Unlike most alternative sweeteners, there is no bitter or chemical aftertaste.
While sugar is a 68 on the glycemic index (GI) scale, So Nourished sweetener is a 0!
These are just a few examples of the many brands that offer monk fruit sweetener products. It may be others.
Just note that is always best to check the label of the actual brand for a full list of ingredients and information about their products.
