Agave Nectar

Wilderness Family Naturals' Agave is not a purified substance, such as high fructose corn syrup or white sugar. Our agave is non-GMO and it is certified organic.

Agave Nectar is a sweet concentrated syrup made from the Agave plant which thrives in the central semi-arid dessert of Mexico. To produce this syrup, first the "pina" or "pineapple-like center" is soaked in purified water. Then natural enzymes, already present in the "pina," are allowed to break down the inulin (complex carbohydrates) into monosaccharides (simple sugars). These sugars are predominantly composed of fructose and glucose.

Wilderness Family Naturals' Certified Organic Agave Nectar is not heated during processing and it is considered raw. The natural fermentation of the inulin water, because the temperature is kept low, takes 4 to 5 days. Concentration of the nectar occurs solely by the use of a vacuum to remove excess moisture after fermentation. Once a specific concentration of sweetness is reached, the syrup becomes shelf stable at room temperature and does not require refrigeration or any special storage.

Wilderness Family Natural's Organic Agave Nectar is dark in color because it has the least amount of processing of any Agave product. Lighter Agave Syrups can be produced by faster processing (which requires temperatures of 160 degrees or more) and heavy filtering. Raw agave, sold by other suppliers, if light in color has been filtered many, many times. Repeated filtering removes flavor and color.

When we visited the manufacturing plant in Mexico we were offered 5 different shades of agave to choose from. Each sample had a slightly different taste with the strongest flavors coming from the darkest agave. The difference in the shades came solely from the number of times the agave was filtered and the fineness of those filters. Wilderness Family Naturals' has chosen to purchase only the agave which sees the lowest temperatures and the least amount of filtering. That is why our agave is darker than others.

Wilderness Family Naturals' Organic Agave Nectar is dark in color because it has fermented naturally at low temperatures over many days and it is not heavily filtered. When we visited the plant where our agave is manufactured we had the option of 5 different "shades" of agave. Each different agave sample had a slightly different taste. The strongest taste came with the darkest colors and this was the agave that was the least filtered and the least processed. This is the agave that Wilderness Family Naturals chose to purchase.

Before visiting the plant ourselves, this type of information was unknown to us. However, we were able to monitor the process, ask numerous questions, and check quality control records, process logs, and look over the equipment. We are proud to tell you that our agave is coming from a new, state-of-the-art plant with very tight quality control. We can give you our personal guarantee that our agave is raw and not heavily filtered or processed with added enzymes, chemicals or other materials. It is:

• Completely natural - no chemicals or enzymes are added during processing, only natural fermentation and simple filtration.
• Completely raw - no heat is used during processing.
• Great for baking and cooking as well as raw dishes and has been used this way for thousands of years by the Mexican people.
• Does not contain any chemicals, toxins, or preservatives.
• 75% sweeter than sugar: fructose is 42 percent sweeter to the human brain than granulated sugar, less is needed to achieve the same level of sweetness

Agave Storage:

Because of the long, slow, low temperature heating and the high concentration of simple sugars, agave nectar has a very low microbial level, like that of honey. We recommend storing it in a dry place at room temperature. With proper storage the agave will have a 3 year shelf life. The colder the storage temperature the thicker the agave will become.

How to Use Agave

Agave syrup dissolves very easily in liquids and is wonderful in beverages, smoothies and desserts. When adjusting a recipe, we suggest using approximately 25% less agave than honey or sugar to achieve the same sweetness.

Wilderness Family Naturals' Agave vs. Other Agaves

It is true that some agave nectar from other manufacturers is more refined or heavily filtered. Most agave nectars on the market are not raw, with the majority being processed at temperatures exceeding 160 degrees F. Some agave manufacturers add enzymes to their nectar, others add alkali, many use heat to break down the inulin and to concentrate the sweetness. These things are not done to Wilderness Family Naturals' agave nectar. As with most products sold in America, agave comes from a large variety of manufacturers, processes, prices, and it's sold in varying qualities. It has been our goal to have the most natural, highest quality products for our customers, and Wilderness Family Naturals' Agave is no exception.