**Agave Syrup:**
– **Production**:
– Agave syrup is produced by extracting juice from the core of agave plants.
– The juice is filtered, heated to break down polysaccharides into simple sugars.
– Different agave species like Agave salmiana are processed uniquely to prevent fermentation.
– An alternative method using enzymes from Aspergillus niger can convert inulin-rich extract into fructose.
– Agave syrup is listed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA.
– **Composition**:
– Carbohydrate composition in agave syrup varies based on the agave species used.
– Blue agave syrup contains 56-60% fructose, 20% glucose, and trace sucrose.
– Fructose molecules in blue agave syrup form fructans and fructooligosaccharides with sweetening effects.
– A. salmiana syrup is mainly composed of sucrose.
– **Culinary Use**:
– Blue agave syrup is 1.4-1.6 times sweeter than sugar and can replace sugar in recipes.
– It is a vegan-friendly alternative to honey and used in breakfast cereals as a binding agent.
– Different varieties like light, amber, and dark agave syrups are used in various dishes for their flavor profiles.
– Dark agave syrup is unfiltered and rich in minerals, often used as a topping.
– **Nutrition**:
– Blue agave syrup per 100g contains 76.4g carbohydrates, 68.0g sugars, and minimal fat and protein.
– It is a moderate source of Vitamin C and B vitamins.
– Blue agave syrup has a similar fructose content to high-fructose corn syrup.
– In a tablespoon amount, blue agave syrup provides 330kJ (78kcal).
– **Glycemic Index**:
– Blue agave syrup’s high sweetness comes from its 56% fructose content.
– It has a low glycemic index of 11-19, affecting blood sugar similarly to fructose itself.
**Vegetarianism:**
– **Vegetarianism History**:
– ‘What is Vegetarianism?’ (1886)
– ‘Shelleys Vegetarianism’ (1891)
– ‘Behind the Scenes in Slaughter-Houses’ (1892)
– ‘Why I Am a Vegetarian’ (1895)
– ‘Figs or Pigs?’
– **Prominent Figures in Vegetarianism**:
– Carol J. Adams
– Suzanne M. Babich
– Phyllis B. Acosta
– William Alcott
– Bertrand P. Allinson
– **Health Advocates in Vegetarianism**:
– Elmer McCollum
– William Metcalfe
– Eli Peck Miller
– Harry Willis Miller
– J. Howard Moore
– **Literary Contributions to Vegetarianism**:
– ‘Figs or Pigs?’ by William Alcott
– ‘Vegetarianism: A Way of Life’ by Rynn Berry
– ‘The Ethics of Diet’ by Howard Williams
– ‘Vegetarianism and Occultism’ by C.W. Leadbeater
– ‘The Vegetarian Crusade’ by Adam D. Shprintzen
– **Modern Influencers in Vegetarianism**:
– Nava Atlas
– Mayim Bialik
– Gypsy Boots
– BOSH!
– Kathleen Keen Zolber
Agave syrup, also known as maguey syrup or agave nectar, is a sweetener commercially produced from several species of agave, including Agave tequilana (blue agave) and Agave salmiana. Blue-agave syrup contains 56% fructose as a sugar providing sweetening properties.
