6 - Honey and Syrups: Healthy and Natural Sweeteners with Functional Properties

Abstract

Sugar has been consumed for long time. There are different natural and synthetic sweeteners for human use. High-fructose corn syrup is the principal sweetener used in food and drinks processes. As consumers are looking for something healthier, natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, and agave syrup are nutritive with high proportions of sugars. Honey was the first sweetener used in the world and has biological properties such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer. Maple syrup is mostly popular in North America. Agave syrup is a Mexican product of recent production and commercialization. Due to the nutritional quality of honey and some syrups, there is a continuous interest in new methods designing to prevent adulteration with other low-cost and less-nutritive sweeteners. In this chapter, differences among commercial available honeys and syrups as well as their functional properties, processing, production, and authenticate will be discussed.