Our shop sells above all products without refined (white) sugar. The sweetness in products comes from natural sweeteners or from organic raw sugar cane. Want to know why? Then read our article on the disadvantages of refined sugar de nadelen van geraffineerde suiker.
In a short time sweets without added sugar have become an important part of our range. That is especially thanks to the publicity about the possible effects of sugar and of aroma chemicals, colourants and flavour additives on the behaviour of children. Alternative organic sweets are mainly sweetened with corn syrup and contain no artificial colourants, aroma chemicals or flavour additives.
Natural sweeteners are suitable for sweetening cakes, cookies, pancakes, (whipped) cream, desserts, tea and coffee. You can find the following natural sweeteners in our shop:
Agave syrup or agave nectar is made from a Mexican plant. The sap is extracted from the agave and concentrated into a syrup. The syrup is rich is natural sugars (a lot of fructose) and minerals. Fructose is a powerful sweetener, so that less is needed to give a deliciously sweet taste in cookies and sweets for example.
Maple syrup comes from a certain variety of maple tree. Maple syrup is a very aromatic sweetener. We have two sorts of maple syrup, A grade and C grade (depending on the moment when the maple sap is tapped). The mineral content is the same, the different lies in the colour and in the aroma.
Chicory syrup is extracted from the chicory plant. It contains mainly fructose and a small amount of glucose.
Date syrup consists of concentrated date juice without any further additives.
Grape sugar is the same as glucose. Grape sugar is not made from grapes but from corn starch or potatoes. The starch is broken down by enzymes into glucose.
Fructose is the same as fruit sugar. Fructose is in fact never made from fruit, but from corn starch. Enzymes break the starch down into glucose.
Grain syrups, such as corn syrup, barley malt syrup, brown rice or rice malt syrup and wheat syrup, are made by dissolving the whole grain flour in water. Enzymes are then added to break down the starch into sugars. This juice is filtered and concentrated into a grain syrup.
Rich in sugar, natural aromatic substances, enzymes and pollen grains. In addition, honey contains a small amount of vitamins and minerals. Organic honey is of excellent quality. This honey comes from bees that are not fed with sugar during the winter. The beekeeper does not use any harmful substances in the case bee diseases or during disinfection of the beehive. We have an extensive range of honey and bee products. assortiment honing en bijenproducten.
Meer info over biologische honing
Coconut blossom sugar is the sap of the coconut tree which is transformed into a sugar as soft as honey. Gula Java is delicious in tea, coffee, on fruit, pancakes, tarts, waffles, and slices of bread with quark (cheese curd) or (soft) cheese. In the Natuurwinkel you can buy Gula Java Blocs: 100% unrefined coconut blossom sugar lumps. Gula Java Fin: 100% unrefined coconut blossom powdered sugar. Gula Java Brut: 100% unrefined coconut blossom raw sugar. All from the brand Aman Prana.
Treacle or molasses is a by-product in the processing of raw sugar cane. Because of its high mineral content it is also sometimes known as blackstrap molasses. Sugar cane syrup has a low mineral content, which is why it is sweeter.
Unrefined whole cane sugar (oerzoet) or panela is the dried and ground juice from sugar cane stalk. Oerzoet still contains all the nutrients that are present in sugar cane syrup. Oerzoet has a more distinctive taste than raw cane sugar.
Raw cane sugar is made from sugar cane syrup. The syrup is compressed and evaporates as a result of boiling.
Stevia is a natural sweetener (200-300 times sweeter than sugar) from the leaves of the subtropical plant Stevia Rebaudiana which I used in South America and Japan. Stevia does not contain any calories, has no influence on blood sugar levels and is not harmful to teeth. In November 2011 Stevia was permitted as a sweetener in the Netherlands, but not yet as an ingredient in organic products.
Xylitol is a natural sweetener, extracted from the peel of fruit such as apples. 100% Xylitol is processed into chewing gum XyliGum, for instance. Xylitol has an inhibitory effect on the decalcification of dental enamel and reduces the quantity of bacteria that cause tooth decay.