The demand for low-calorie sweeteners has risen significantly in recent years. That’s because of the growing number of people with diabetes in the US and other developed countries. More and more people focus on healthy living and follow some form of dietary restrictions. That’s why it is no surprise that the market share of natural alternatives to regular and brown sugar has risen. Stevia and monk fruit sweeteners are the best examples of such products. Although stevia has been known and used for years, monk fruit extract has become popular recently. Its scarcity and low supply make it a less affordable option compared to stevia or sugar alcohols (like erythritol and xylitol). Nevertheless, monk fruit sweetener has multiple benefits compared to other sugar substitutes. In this post, we’ll share more about what monk fruit sweetener is and what the applications of this product are. This post is part of our series on sugar, sweeteners, and honey. Other informative resources are our articles on how to sell sugar and wholesale honey.
Key takeaway: Monk fruit extract is a natural zero-calorie sweetener. Along with stevia, it’s common among health-conscious consumers who look for plant-based sugar alternatives. The limited supply and the high price of monk fruit extract are the main reasons why its market share is fairly small compared to other sugar alternatives.
What Is Monk Fruit Sweetener
Monk fruit sweetener is extracted from the fruits of the vine plant Siraitia grosvenorii. It’s more commonly known as luo han guo in China where the plant is most common and as monk fruit in the US and other parts of the world. The sweetness of monk fruit extract comes from its richness of mogrosides.
Monk fruit extract is between 100 and 300 times sweeter than regular sugar. The highly concentrated sweetness of the product means that it should either be used in very small quantities or blended with other ingredients. Most monk fruit sweeteners sold on the market also contain erythritol to reduce the potency of monk fruit extract. Extract of monk fruit contains zero calories and carbohydrates. This means it doesn’t increase blood sugar levels and is suitable for people with diabetes and those who follow a low-carb diet.
In addition to its natural origins, monk fruit sweetener also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory health benefits. That’s why the monk fruit extract has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many years.
Lakanto and Pure Monk are among the most popular monk fruit sweetener brands.
What Are the Applications of Monk Fruit Sweetener
The high retail and wholesale price of monk fruit sweetener compared to other alternatives make it a less-commonly used sugar substitute. However, there are still various uses for monk fruit extract and sweeteners made of it. Here are the main ones.
- Baking and cooking. Monk fruit sweetener can be used by retail and commercial bakeries to make sugar-free cookies, desserts, and other pastries. It can also be used to make sugar-free sauces. Monk fruit sweeteners are more common among businesses that aim to use natural products and people who follow a low-carb diet.
- Confectionery and processed products. Snack bars, candies, breakfast cereal, and sugar-free dairy products like yogurt and ice cream are just a few examples of items that can be sweetened with monk fruit extract.
- Traditional Chinese medicine and pharmaceuticals. The pharmaceutical industry needs sweeteners for sugar-free cough syrups and other medicines. However, monk fruit sweeteners are rarely used in such products due to the higher price compared to other zero-calorie alternatives. Nevertheless, monk fruit extract has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a remedy for cough and sore throat for many years.
- Beverages. The food and beverage industry has introduced various health-conscious products in recent years. Some soda drinks or ready-to-drink cocktails are made with monk fruit extract instead of sugar or artificial sweeteners. Monk fruit sweetener can also be used as a condiment for coffee and tea.
Benefits of Monk Fruit Sweetener
The main reason why monk fruit extract has become a popular alternative to sugar is the fact that it has no calories. This makes it suitable for diabetics and those who follow a low-carb diet. It’s also a plant-derived natural product. The lack of bitter or metallic aftertaste (that is typical for stevia) makes monk fruit sweeteners a preferred choice for some recipes. Speaking of cooking, monk fruit extract is a heat-stable sweetener (unlike aspartame) that can be used for baking or flavoring hot drinks. That’s why a growing number of businesses in the restaurant industry have started using it as a zero-calorie sweetener. The highly concentrated sweetness (approximately 250 times sweeter than sugar) makes logistics and transportation easier compared to shipping sugar or another substitute.
Downsides and Side Effects of Monk Fruit Sweetener
The limited availability and the high price of monk fruit extract are the main reasons why it’s not very popular. Large manufacturers prefer to use aspartame or other affordable alternatives from the sweeteners niche market. Wholesale sales of monk fruit extract are primarily done by businesses that wish to focus on the production of food or drinks with a natural sweetener. Many business owners aim to lower the cost of goods sold and use sucralose or aspartame.
Some of the known side effects of monk fruit sweeteners include mild bloating or a possible allergic reaction. The main reason for these side effects is the fact that monk fruit extract is often blended with other ingredients. Keep in mind that these side effects are fairly uncommon.
Frequently Asked Questions about Monk Fruit Sweetener
From resources on wholesale distribution to guides about wholesale food products, you’ll find plenty of tips and useful information on BlueCart’s website. We’ve answered some commonly asked questions about monk fruit sweeteners below.
What Businesses Buy Wholesale Monk Fruit Sweeteners?
Due to the high price of monk fruit sweeteners, few businesses use them as sugar substitutes. Nevertheless, as there are more health-conscious consumers and a growing demand for natural products, various companies choose stevia (read more about what stevia is) or monk fruit sweeteners. Examples include ice cream parlors, retail bakery businesses, and other food service establishments. Offering recipes with monk fruit sweeteners instead of aspartame or sugar alcohol sweeteners can also help a company’s marketing. The natural origins and the health benefits of monk fruit sweet extract make it a popular choice among sustainable and health-oriented food businesses.
What Are the Alternatives to Monk Fruit Sweeteners?
Stevia is the most popular alternative to monk fruit. It is also a plant-based sweetener that is natural and has various health benefits. The main advantage of stevia is that it is more widely available. It also is more affordable which makes it a preferred option for businesses that want to use a plant-based sweetener. However, monk fruit doesn’t have the bitter aftertaste that stevia does. Other alternatives to monk fruit sweeteners include sugar alcohols (xylitol and erythritol) and artificial sweeteners like aspartame. Although they have little to no calories, these alternatives are not considered natural products.
Is Monk Fruit Banned?
No, monk fruit is not banned. It is approved for use as a sweetener by the FDA and other regulatory agencies across the world. Nevertheless, there is some confusion about the legal status of monk fruit sweeteners. That’s because there are regulatory delays and it takes longer for some countries to approve novel products as safe food additives. Monk fruit can be found in many countries across the world. However, its limited supply is the reason why it’s not as popular as stevia, erythritol, and xylitol.
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Whether you wish to purchase stevia and monk fruit sweeteners in bulk or you’re the owner of a bee farm and wish to sell raw honey to businesses, BlueCart can assist you. Our platform connects businesses with suppliers in various fields. Thanks to BlueCart’s solutions, specialized and broadline distributors can increase revenue and improve efficiency by automating various tasks. Schedule your demo today and see why many suppliers use BlueCart to increase their B2B sales and improve their business processes.