Before the holidays I received an unexpected package from Xylitol Canada with their Xyla products.
According to the literature they sent me, this natural sweetener is extracted from North American grown hardwood trees using a steam and ion exchange process which crystallizes it. You can use it for just about everything you would use sugar for, from coffee to baking.
Product Testing
They included a Mountain Berry Jam which I shared with friends when I had a tasting party. We all agreed that it was just OK, although impressive you can make a jam with only 20 calories per tablespoon because it has 40% less calories than sugar.
Most impressive were their huge array and mix of mints and candies! They are little candies that just dissolve in your mouth and are packed with flavour. Funny to think you can have a candy that actually inhibits plaque and dental cavities up to 80%. We shared these with lots of people and everyone loved them.
I tried using Xyla in my tea and it was sweet but it just did not taste the same.
I switched my icing sugar for Xyla in my Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix. Again, it was good but tasted different. Not bad but it was not the same.
I knew the real test would be how it did with my candied pecans which I make at least once a week.
They did not crystallize. They ended up getting syrupy but did not become “candied”. They were still delicious in my salad but again… not the same.
Foodie Conclusion
If you are on a special diet and want to cut back on your sugar or carbs, this might be the product for you. According to their site it is slowly metabolized and does not spike blood sugar and is a 7 on the glycemic index. Still, if you are diabetic, talk to your doctor first!
Having 75% fewer carbs than sugar is impressive but honestly? There is enough change in flavour for me that I will take the calories and the carbs. Except when it comes to the candies, they rocked and I love them the way they are.
You can find Xyla product in nationals chains such as Loblaw, London Drugs, Whole Foods, Bulk Barn and health food stores. So far it is the most impressive natural sweetener I have come across and if the day comes and I have to go down that route, I will definitely consider Xyla. For now, I just prefer to have my food and drink taste the way I am used to them.
For those with special needs I give this product four out of five wooden spoons.
Trying to lower my sugar consumption, I began using this in my coffee (I drink a lot of coffee!), before reviewing any comments. A couple of days later, I began to feel extremely bloated and was afraid to leave the house (needing to use the toilet every 30 minutes!). Searching Xyla online, I found a CBC article explaining side effects. It is recommended to introduce Xyla slowly to your diet, thus avoiding bloating and diarrhea.
Oh man! I had no idea, thanks for letting us know. Yikes!
I’m in agreement with the “Should have researched first”
I have not had a flare up of colitis in many years and was surprised to trace a recent emergence of symptoms to the introduction of Xyla into my diet.
So, yes…it should be slowly introduced and probably not if one is prone to irritable bowel problems.
Thanks for letting us know Mel!