Monk fruit powder is made from dried and powdered monk fruit. The monk fruit belongs to the gourd family, and its vines have been cultivated for centuries in parts of Asia. It is native to two areas: Southern China and the northern part of Thailand. In China, it has been cultivated mostly in the mountainous parts of the Guangxi province since it requires that region’s climate to thrive. However, it is rarely found growing in the wild these days.
Its sweet inner pulp has been used for centuries in medicines and as a sweetener. The monk fruit’s sweetness has recently led to it becoming one of the popular alternative sweeteners.
Chinese medical practitioners throughout history have found it valuable because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Those properties have made it useful for treating everything from coughs to fevers.
Because fresh monk fruit spoils quickly, it isn’t easy to export in its fresh form. As a result, monk fruit extract and monk fruit powder are the most common versions that you see outside of its native lands. Another reason it is difficult to find is that the Chinese government has instituted a ban on exporting the fruit, seeds, and any other genetic material from China.
In China, the monk fruit is called luo han guo. The monk fruit name comes from the fact that 13-century Buddhist monks initially cultivated it.
Most of China’s current monk fruit production still comes from the Guangxi region.
Monk fruit powder flavor profile
Monk fruit powder is a sweetener, so it’s primary flavor is neutral sweetness. Most powdered monk fruit sweeteners consist of monk fruit extract combined with dextrose to balance its sweetness. Some sources claim that the powder is roughly 200 times sweeter than sugar. The monk fruit itself does contain the natural sugars that you get from other fruits such as fructose and glucose, but it also includes mogrosides, which are the compounds responsible for its exceptional sweetness. Along with the intense sweetness, monk fruit powder also has a mildly astringent aftertaste.
Health benefits of monk fruit powder
Monk fruit powder’s powerful health benefits come from the nutrients it contains, which include:
- Mogrosides: The mogrosides that give monk fruit powder its sweetness are also believed to be powerful antioxidants.
Monk fruit sweetener can help with the treatment and prevention of health problems like:
- Obesity: Monk fruit powder is a calorie-free sweetener, which means that it is an excellent option if you are trying to manage your weight.
- Diabetes: Monk fruit powder provides its sweetness without affecting blood sugar levels. As a result, it is safe for people with diabetes to consume.
Health concerns
It is important to note that sweet tastes can affect how your body responds even when there is no sugar being consumed. This is a phenomenon with all artificial sweeteners. Some studies show that sweet-tasting sugar-free foods do affect insulin levels. Because sweet tastes alone can affect insulin production, even a sugar-free sweetener like monk fruit powder may have unwanted effects on insulin sensitivity. The research is not yet conclusive but should still be kept in mind when choosing alternative sweeteners.
Common uses
Monk fruit powder is an all-purpose sweetener that you can use for most of the same applications as regular sugar. Use it to sweeten beverages, for baking and sprinkle it onto cereals.