What is Agave?
Agave is obtained from the plant Agave tequilana (blue agave) and Agave salmiana belonging to the Family- Asparagaceae, the sub-family being Agavoideae and Genus- Agave. Agave is natively grown in America, South Africa, and Mexico. Agave is almost 1.5 times sweeter than table sugar and finds its place in a variety of confectionaries.
The agave syrup is obtained from the sweet sap located at the center of the plant. The sap is collected through a pressure cooking machine followed by extraction of the syrup. The agave syrup is then collected, packed, packaged, and transferred to the wholesale and retail services for trade purposes.
Agave has a high amount of fructose and is slightly thinner than honey which makes it easier to uses in beverages such as mocktails, cocktails, and iced teas. It can also be used as a spread over bread, pancakes, or toast.
Agave also has a lot of nutritional content and possesses anti-oxidant properties. The nutritional value makes it a better alternative than regular table sugar. Also, the consumption of agave syrup is less compared to the table sugar as it is sweeter than the normal table sugar, a friendly alternative.
What is Honey?
Honey is the food source for bees. The floral nectar used to make honey is collected by the bees of the genera Apis from different flowers. Honey is a thick dark brown-golden or yellow golden-colored liquid having a very little amount of water. The chance of microbial growth is very low in the case of honey, so it can be stored for longer durations.
Bees convert the floral nectars into simple sugar and then store it in the beehive honeycombs. Preserving the nectars in the honeycomb will maintain its freshness and provide protection from the external environment. The honey is then extracted from these honeycombs and filtered to remove foreign particles. Due to the participation of bees in the hone-making process, it isn’t considered vegan.
Honey is used in baking bread, cakes, puddings, pies, and cookies. It is also used in breakfast cereals and beverages. Honey also possesses medicinal and healing properties which makes it a popular ingredient in the skincare and medicinal field. It also helps in the maintenance of blood sugar levels of the person consuming it. Honey is preferred in place of table sugar for people who are having a diet or trying to consume low carb diet such as in case of weight loss.
Difference Between Agave and Honey
- Agave is obtained from the blue agave plant while honey is obtained from beehives.
- Source of agave- Leaves of the plant Agave salmian and Agave tequilana. Source of honey- produced by bees by the collection of floral nectars.
- Agave acts as food for the plant while honey is the food for bees.
- Agave is rich in fructose (almost 80-90%) while honey contains fructose, sucrose, and glucose.
- The glycemic index of agave lies between 10 to 19 while pure honey has a glycemic index of 58.
- Honey has a thicker consistency than agave syrup.
- Agave has high fructose content which can lead to higher blood sugar levels. Honey is comparatively safer for consumption.
Comparison Between Agave and Honey
| Parameters of Comparison | Agave | Honey |
| Source | Obtained from the blue agave plant Agave tequilana and Agave salmiana. | Obtained from beehives. |
| Composition | High fructose content. | Contains fructose, glucose, and sucrose. |
| Glycemic index | 10-19 (low) | 58 (mild) |
| Classification | On basis of color and processing parameters. | On basis of the floral source of the nectar. |
| Consistency | Thinner than honey. | Has a thicker consistency. |
| Hypersensitivity | Rarely causes allergy | Can cause allergy due to the presence of dormant endospores. |
| Uses | Can be used as a vegan alternative for cooking. Sweetener in beverages and breakfast cereals. | Used mainly in baking bread and biscuits, and in beverages. Also used in skin care products and medicines. |
| Major Suppliers | America, Mexico, and South Africa. | Ukraine, Turkey, Argentina, China, and Russia. |