It’s alternative sweeteners month!
Sunday, February 01, 2009
The Farm to Philly challenge for the month of February is using alternative sweeteners. Admittedly, I know very little about using things other than sugar as sweeteners. Me and sugar go way back.
So, of course, I had to do a little research! Some alternative sweeteners that are locally grown include:
- Honey
- Applesauce and apple juice (made from locally grown apples)
- Maple syrup
- Molasses (Margerum’s allegedly sells local molasses)
There are tons of other natural sweeteners, but I very much doubt we’ll be finding locally made date or palm sugar, cane sugars, or agave nectar!
One natural sweetener that has been getting a lot of attention lately is Stevia, a tropical and subtropical herb grown for its sweet leaves. It is not without controversy - the FDA banned the use of Stevia as a sweetener years ago, but just recently OK’d its use by Coke and Pepsi (no doubt a reaction to the growing interest in natural and whole foods). You can grow your own Stevia this year - seeds are readily available and it seems easy to grow.
Posted by Nicole on 02/01 at 01:59 PM
For some reason I just can’t get the Stevia thing around my mind, maybe because of all the “its safe, approved” and then the retractions in 6 more years…. plus the flavor of local honey has me in its grasp 
Apple sauce and apple juice are some of my fav sweeteners, particularly in baked goods…. have you found some sweeteners work better in one type of food or the other?
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growing stevia?! what an idea. i wonder if that would take in my wine crates turned planters on my roof…