Blue Agave syrup

[JMac]

Well as some of you know I have been on a mission to get some cane syrup particularly Depaz or Petite Canne.

Unfortunately no such luck; however today at a local health food store I spoke with one of the employees about finding cane syrup. She referred me to one of the floor managers. He suggested that I try Blue Agave syrup as a substitute.

I was advised that it was light, very sweet, and had a neutral taste. So I purchased a 375 ml bottle.

Well I am pleasantly surprised. It is very sweet, has no taste except for the sweetness, and mixed very well with a Neisson ti punch. Its also not very viscous more like olive oil to the touch.

So until I can get the real thing.....this will do nicely.

[Tiare]

I have never tried agave syrup but it sounds interesting. All i know is that its sweeter than honey.

[frenchrumlover]

agave syrup is one of the main ingredient to make a TOMMY S MARGARITA.
i know it s tequila sorry.
i won t say it is as sweet as honey but the one we get in the uk is really thick and viscous

[Paulipbartender]

It's a more subtle, floral sweetness that you get from the Agave syrup. Wonderful stuff - we use it all the time - obviously with anything containing tequila but we also paired it with the Temptryst Algerita Wood Rum

[Tiare]

Now i know one thing for sure..i must get a bottle and try it for myself.:)

[JMac]

Its not bad...and its very sweet. I was also surprised on how bland it is and how easily its flavored. When I put it in the ti punch, the lime and rum flavor came right though.

I still haven't given up my quest for Depaz or Petite Canne but this will do nicely until then.

For info Tiare its organic Blue Agave syrup. I'd post a picture if I could figure that part out :o

[Tiare]

I`ve found the organic Blue agave syrup and i find it very nice and its just like Paul said, a more subtle, floral sweetness. I`ve read its sweeter than honey but after tasting it i`m not sure about that.

[Edward Hamilton]

I still haven't given up my quest for Depaz or Petite Canne but this will do nicely until then.


There is a huge difference between these two syrups. Depaz is much more like a light molasses while the Petit Canne is more like the agave syrup mentioned in this thread.

[Goslings]

Funny you should post this. I also just bought some 100% Agave Nectar. Was looking for it for a tequila drink and when searching on the net, found lots of positive things to say about it. Lots of doctors recommending as a sugar substitute. Sweater so you use less. It is a little thick but mixes well unlike honey.

I decided to use it in some of my favorite rum cocktails instead of simple syrup. Very very pleased with the results. Without question, it is now going to be a main stay in my bar.

[Edward Hamilton]

Sometimes when I don't have sugar cane syrup I'll use a little honey in a cocktail but it just doesn't mix as well, though it is so much better than crystalline sugar.

[JMac]

Funny you should post this. I also just bought some 100% Agave Nectar. Was looking for it for a tequila drink and when searching on the net, found lots of positive things to say about it. Lots of doctors recommending as a sugar substitute. Sweater so you use less. It is a little thick but mixes well unlike honey.

I decided to use it in some of my favorite rum cocktails instead of simple syrup. Very very pleased with the results. Without question, it is now going to be a main stay in my bar.

You touched on my other two reasons for getting it; good sugar substitute and mixes well. It has earned a place in the cabinet thats for sure.

Still would like to get my mitts on Depaz or Petite Canne....

[primate77]

Jmac - you should find that Petite Canne when you make your pilgramage east and stop at Randall's in Fairview Heights, IL.

If for some reason you don't stop in there, and can't find it, get me an address at your destination, and can always mail you a bottle. It's $9.99 USD around where I live, and plenty in supply at the local store.

[JMac]

Thanks.....thats much appreciated. As it stands...all systems go for Randalls...

[primate77]

Sweet! Don't forget to bring your sherpa (to tote all the bottles you pick up in there, and don't want to put back down)!:D

[Torpnubber]

I've been wanting to experiment with Agave Syrup and finally had the chance to pick some up this weekend.

Started with a standard Mojito and I was really happy with the results.
Nice round body without the crystalized sugar aftertaste.

Guess I'll be doing some more experimentation :p

[tym2relax]

I've been wanting to experiment with Agave Syrup and finally had the chance to pick some up this weekend.

Started with a standard Mojito and I was really happy with the results.
Nice round body without the crystalized sugar aftertaste.

Guess I'll be doing some more experimentation :p

Hey Torp, how much did you use for your Mojito. I have some of the Agave Syrup but have not used it yet.

[Torpnubber]

I had read that agave is about 1 1/2 times sweeter than sugar.

I normally use a little less than a tablespoon for a nice tall mojito so I used about 1/2 tablespoon of agave nectar. I thought the resulting drink needed a bit more sweetness but my wife was happy with her drink.

I'm going to try the same philosophy with a margarita.
But you know the old motto, "If at first you don't succeed....." :D

[primate77]

but my wife was happy with her drink

That is all that needs to be said. Then, you've found success.

[Carbon]

The first time I tried this stuff was in a Partida Margarita. No triple sec, just tequila, agave nectar, and lime juice. Very refreshing.
http://www.partidamargarita.com/

Just in the past couple days I remembered this and considered using agave nectar in a variety of rum cocktails, but then read a few things that scared me off. Agave syrup is mostly fructose. These quotes from Wikipedia (if accurate) turn me off a bit to agave syrup and fructose in general, as reading these things doesn't make me think that it goes well with alcohol consumption. Do you think it would beat up your liver even worse than normal? That's what I'm assuming.

~~~
"...but every cell in the body can metabolize glucose. However, all fructose must be metabolized in the liver. The livers of the rats on the high fructose diet looked like the livers of alcoholics, plugged with fat and cirrhotic."

Unlike glucose, fructose is almost entirely metabolized in the liver. "When fructose reaches the liver," says Dr. William J. Whelan, a biochemist at the University of Miami School of Medicine, "the liver goes bananas and stops everything else to metabolize the fructose."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructose#Health_effects
~~~

I was going to start off making my first daiquiri-like cocktail with Oronoco, lime, and agave nectar, but now I'm a bit weary.

[forrest]

These quotes from Wikipedia (if accurate) turn me off a bit to agave syrup and fructose in general

That was an interesting article and it did give me pause, but when i looked at it thoroughly i would say that your agave nectar is still much better than conventional 'sweeteners' for your body.

Agave nectar's sugar is roughly 75% fructose (avg) a little' higher fructose as an apple (70% avg) or a papaya (60%)-- which shows a higher fructose than say. . . honey (52.7%) or HFCS (55.1% ), or cane syrup (45% avg), while being considerably lower on the glycemic index (and having more calories. . .); so pick your poison.

All this is to show you that if you eat an apple you will die, but if you have high fructose corn syrup you will live a life of undying bliss.... wait a minute....

The fructose differences are important if you have a fructose problem, in which case you probably already knew this stuff..

Agave nectar is considerably sweeter so you would use half as much (or less) than sugar, cutting the fructose impact also in half down to around an onion.

So use whichever sweetener you like. Cane syrup is great in a Daiquiri (but then so is agave syrup, turbinado, maple syrup, honey, demerara, screw it i'm gonna make a daiquiri)...

What i am really trying to say is watch out when you are looking for quick answers, Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) said it best: "There are lies, damn lies, and statistics."

Carbon thank you for making me think so early in the morning, but now i must go and sling booze!!

****