Have you heard about flavoured sweeteners? In addition to berries, flowers and herbs are also perfect for bringing an extra flavour to sweeteners that are perfect for summery drinks, deserts, porridge, smoothie and tea. 

To replace white sugar, we suggest trying alternatives that are healthier as they are lower GI (glycemic index, and therefore won't raise your blood sugar like regular sugar) for example, Finnish Birch Sugar, or more known by its name Xylitol. The lower the GI index, the smaller the effect on blood sugar and the more steady it is. White sugar has a GI index of 68 whereas Xylitol falls at 7 and coconut sugar at 38, just to give an idea. Banting, or low carb dieting, accepts xylitol as a sweetener that won't have the effect on blood sugar like other sweeteners creating a spike followed by a fall. 

To make a 2dl jar of Flower Xylitol

• 2dl lilac flowers / rose petals / fireweed flowers/  wild pansy flowers / other edible flowers
• 2 dl METTÄ Finnish Xylitol or coconut sugar or other sweetener
• clean glass jar with a seal or cap

Separate the flowers from their stems. Soak / rinse the flowers if needed to get rid of any small bugs or dirt. If the flowers are wet, dry them on a handtowel. In turns to create layers, mix into your glass jar the flowers and the xylitol or other sweetener you have chosen. Leave the jar open as long as the flowers have any moisture in them. Mix daily to avoid any moisture clumps forming in the sugar.

The Xylitol we use in our METTÄ products is a fresh flavoured, low GI natural sweetener that contains 40% less calories than regular sugar. Xylitol takes heat well, so it's perfect for baking. Our Xylitol is sustainably produced in Finland using the side stream fibre waste from the European wood industry. Xylitol is a perfect sweetener for tea, coffee, smoothies, porridge, yogurt and to sweeten your summer drinks.

Excessive use of xylitol may cause laxative effects. 

Kukkakoivusokeri

Valkoisen sokerin sijaan kannattaa kokeilla  muita vaihtoehtoja, kuten vaikkapa kotimaista koivusokeria, ksylitolia, jonka glykeeminen indeksi on huimasti alhaisempi kuin teollisen valkaistun sokerin. Mitä pienempi GI-arvo tuotteessa on, sitä vähäisempi ja tasaisempi vaikutus sillä on verensokeriin. Valkoisen sokerin GI-arvo on 68, kun koivusokerin 7 ja kookossokerin 38 esimerkiksi.

Kukkakoivusokeri 2dl purkillinen:

• 2 dl syreenin kukkia / ruusunterälehtiä / keto-orvokkia / maitohorsman kukkia yms. muita saatavillasi olevia syötäviä kukkia
• 2 dl METTÄ Suomalaista ksylitolia tai kookossokeria yms.
• Puhdas kannellinen lasipurkki