What is Agave?
Agave or agave nectar is found in hot and humid areas like deserts. These blue agave plant can be found in an arid area of Mexico and is the native country that produces agave. Agave is a natural sweetener available in the runny, or viscous texture less than the honey. Agave is treated as a vegan alternative and has a low glycemic index value that ranges from 10 to 20. It is known to have magnesium, potassium, and calcium-like minerals in significantly low amounts. To extract the agave nectar, three stages are involved.
- The initial phase involves getting the honey water from the source. The source is variant species of blue agave plants.
- After the extraction, the honey water is filtered and heated.
- The final stage involves processing the heated texture to obtained light consistency agave nectar.
Agave is known to have dietary fibers. It has a caramel-like taste and the intensity depends upon the type of extracted syrup. The syrup is made using two sugars: fructose and glucose in different proportions. It is a natural healthy sweetener used to create delicious foods and beverages. The interesting fact is that it issued to make tequila. It is available in raw, amber, dark, and light forms. It is treated as a vegan alternative and has sodium (Na) present in it. Although, excess of anything is harmful and that includes agave too. It can create resistance from insulin.
What is Sugar?
Sugar, also known as table sugar is a term that describes any sweet substance. It is made from sucrose, a disaccharide that constitutes fructose and glucose in almost equal proportions. The sweetener is native to India extracted more either from sugarcane or beet. The extraction process from both is different. The extraction process with sugarcane involves the following stages:
- The initial phase involves the extraction of juice from sugarcane.
- The purification process for extracted juice is achieved with the aid of lime and heat.
- The procedure is continued till the granules like crystals start formulating. The sugar crystals are separated from the centrifuge.
- Bleaching of sugar granules takes place.
- The final stage involves the refining of the bleached sugar. It results in the formation of white solid granules that seems like crystal.
The extraction process of sugar is a bit different. The process involves the following stages.
- Soaking of beets in the hot water.
- Isolation process for process involves filtration and purification.
- The water is evaporated and sugar like structures are separated from it.
- After the bleaching of extracted solids, refined sugar is presented in the form of table sugar.
Sugar is used in the majority of households for ages. It is used to create delicious baked goods, desserts, and beverages. Table sugar is available in white, brown, turbinado, and demarrera form. It tastes extreme sweet as it has 99.91 g of sugar per 100 grams. Sugar is widely-used and contains almost negligible nutrients.
Difference Between Agave and Sugar
- The main difference between agave and sugar is its origin. Agave is native to Mexico whereas sugar is native to India.
- Agave is extracted from variants of blue agave whereas sugar is extracted from sugarcane and beets.
- The texture of agave is less viscous than honey or is runny whereas the sugar is obtained in granulated form.
- Unlike sugar, agave has dietary fibers and has minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium. The present amount is very low.
- Agave is considered as a healthy vegan alternative due to its low glycemic index value that ranges from 10 to 19 whereas sugar is a bit on the higher side with a glycemic value of 60.
- Agave has a taste like caramel depending on its type whereas sugar is referred to any sweet substance.
- Unlike Sugar, agave has sodium present in it.
- Agave is little more calories than the sugar.
- The nutrient value is higher in case of agave.
Comparison Between Agave and Sugar
| Parameters of Comparison | Agave | Sugar |
| Source | Agave is extracted from the blue agave plant. | Sugar granules is extracted from the sugarcane or the beet. |
| Native | Agave is native to Mexico and South- Africa. | Sugar is native to India. |
| Types of Sugar | Made from fructose (60?80%) and glucose (20-40%). | Made from sucrose (50% fructose, and 50% of glucose). |
| Glycemic Index | Low , ranges from 10 to 19. | Very High, 60 |
| Sugars | 1g ( per 100g) | 99.91g (per 100g) |
| Texture | Runny to viscous texture | Solid granulated form |
| Color | Dark amber-brown | White or brown |
| Minerals | very low amount of magnesium, potassium, and calcium. | None |
| Types | Raw, Light, Amber, and Dark | White, Brown, Turbinado, and demarrera |
| Uses | Vegan alternative of honey, Different recipes and beverages | Baking, Desserts, and Cereal, Different recipes |