Natural is sweeter in a sweetener

The use of low-calorie sweeteners is usually associated with a heightened commitment to achieve a better state of health. While diabetics use sugar alternatives as an aid to control blood glucose levels, calorie-conscious individuals employ these to stay trim and fit. For consumers who like to keep up-to-date, however, conflicting safety concerns about artificial sweeteners may be cause for some confusion and apprehension. For instance, if a particular artificial sweetener is linked to certain cancers with long-term use, should one even risk using it at all? And thus, natural products have become more popular alternatives for health- conscious consumers who watch their sugar intake. Sweeteners like xylitol that naturally occurs in the birch tree, or natural herbal sweeteners from the stevia shrub, for example, are deemed more satisfactory choices 

The good news for Filipinos is that an all-natural, low-calorie sweetener is available locally. Using coco sap from coconut trees that grow throughout the Philippine archipelago, an all-natural brand called Suchero is being marketed as a healthy alternative to cane sugar.

“The product’s sole ingredient is coco sap which is cooked over low heat in modern facilities,” says entrepreneur Joey Villa. This results in a unique caramel-tasting sweetener which does not have a bitter aftertaste. “The product undergoes strict quality control; has no chemicals or additives and does not undergo bleaching. It has the added benefit of being rich in amino acids, vitamins and minerals,” continues Villa.

Another bonus, says Villa, is that the product has a 1:1 ratio with sugar, so that it is convenient to use. “There is no need to calculate to be able to use it properly. One teaspoon of Suchero has a sweetening effect equivalent to one teaspoon of sugar.”

The product comes in resealable sachets in boxes of 60-275 grams, or 350 gram-1 kilo pouches that are convenient for baking requirements. 

Why Suchero? With its low glycemic index, the product is ideal for diabetics because it does not cause a sudden rise in blood sugar levels. Villa cites a comparative study carried out by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology that shows that while cane sugar has a glycemic index of 60, Suchero’s glycemic index is lower at 35. It can be used as a precautionary measure. “Suchero is for people who have a family background of diabetes. It is good for the whole family; not just for those who already have the disease.”    

Great for baking: All-natural Suchero has no bitter after-taste unlike artificial sweeteners.

Why embark on a venture to produce a healthy, all-natural low-calorie sweetener? For Joey Villa, the axiom “necessity is the mother of invention” holds true. “In 1998, I was diagnosed to have a CV malformation — in the family of aneurysms — in the spine. This resulted in four major surgeries from 1998-2000,” he relates. Noticing a marked increase in his weight, from 170 lbs. before surgery to 215 lbs. after, he embarked to find healthier alternatives “After all the surgical procedures, I was looking for something healthier and I had to watch my diet closely. Suchero was one of the lifestyle changes implemented.”

With business partners Antonio Magcase and Vida Pamatian, Joey Villa aims to share the benefits of Suchero with more consumers. “Suchero is recommended by doctors and we are aiming to export and promote it as a more affordable, all-natural sugar substitute.”

Targeting markets in North America, Australia and New Zealand, Suchero secured approval from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration last year, while SGS certification was acquired this year. SGS is a notified and accredited Certification Body (CB) and operates one of the biggest safety networks in the world. 

But since taste is still the ultimate gauge, we sampled desserts made by LowCal Café that were sweetened with Suchero to test for palatability. The best surprise? French apple torte with crème Anglaise, pistachio sans rival, and oatmeal raisin cookies taste just as good. Suchero is great for drinks, too.