Organic invert syrup, also known as organic inverted sugar syrup, is a liquid sweetener made from organic sugarcane or organic sugar beets. It is produced by splitting the sucrose in organic cane sugar or organic beet sugar into glucose and fructose using enzymes or acids. This process is called inversion, which refers to the changing or inversion of sucrose into its component sugars. Organic invert syrup contains roughly equal parts fructose and glucose, making it sweeter than regular organic cane sugar.
How is organic invert syrup made?
There are a few methods used to make organic invert syrup:
- Enzyme inversion: Organic sucrose is split into glucose and fructose using the enzyme invertase. This produces a mild-flavored syrup.
- Acid inversion: Treatment of organic sucrose with citric or tartaric acid splits it into fructose and glucose. This method produces syrup with a slightly caramelized flavor.
- Heat inversion: Prolonged heating of organic sugar syrup causes it to break down into fructose and glucose. The resulting syrup has a caramelized, toffee-like flavor.
Regardless of the inversion method, the process is carefully controlled to achieve the desired syrup composition and flavor profile. Once inverted, the syrup is filtered to remove any impurities or solids.
What are the differences between organic invert syrup and regular syrup?
There are a few key differences between organic invert syrup and regular syrup made from conventional sugarcane or sugar beets:
- Organic certification – Organic invert syrup is made from organic sugarcane or organic sugar beets grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and certified organic by a third-party certifier.
- Nutrient profile – Organic syrups retain more of the minerals naturally present in sugarcane juice or beet sugar. Conventional refinement processes remove most of these nutrients.
- Flavor – The organic certification standards prohibit addition of artificial flavors or synthetic chemicals during processing. As a result, organic invert syrup has a more natural, subtle sweetness compared to regular syrup.
- Sweetness – Since it contains glucose and fructose, organic invert syrup is around 30-50% sweeter than regular organic cane sugar. The exact sweetness depends on the syrup’s composition.
So in summary, organic invert syrup has a more natural taste profile, retains more nutrients, and is significantly sweeter than conventional corn syrup or cane sugar syrup. The organic certification provides assurance that the syrup is produced sustainably without synthetic additives.
What are the culinary uses of organic invert syrup?
Organic invert syrup has many of the same culinary applications as regular syrup, but with some distinct advantages thanks to its unique properties:
- Baking – Organic invert syrup helps retain moisture, prevents crystallization, and promotes browning reactions like caramelization in baked goods. It’s excellent in cakes, cookies, and bars.
- Candy making – The high sweetness, moisture retention, and smooth texture make organic invert syrup useful in candy production. It’s commonly used for chocolates and confections.
- Beverages – A small amount of organic invert syrup can enhance fruitiness and add body to drinks. It works well in smoothies, cocktails, coffee, and tea.
- Sauces and glazes – The mild flavor allows other ingredients to shine through while the syrup contributes glossiness, moisture, and sweetness to sauces and glazes.
- Ice cream and sorbet – Organic invert syrup helps ice cream stay scoopable straight from the freezer. It also adds sweetness and body to sorbet.
Compared to regular corn syrup or cane sugar syrup, organic invert syrup typically requires using about 25-30% less volume to achieve the same level of sweetness. This makes it economical for commercial food production.
What are the possible health benefits?
There are a few potential health advantages associated with organic invert syrup compared to regular syrup:
- Lower glycemic impact – The glucose and fructose in organic invert syrup have lower glycemic indexes than sucrose. This results in a more gradual absorption of the sugars.
- Prebiotic fiber – Small amounts of inulin fiber found naturally in sugarcane and beets may remain in organic invert syrup. Inulin acts as a prebiotic to support gut bacteria.
- Higher mineral content – More of the naturally occurring minerals in sugarcane and sugar beets are retained in organic invert syrup compared to highly refined regular syrup.
- No GMOs or pesticides – The organic certification means the syrup does not contain genetically engineered ingredients or toxic pesticide residues.
However, invert syrup is still a form of added sugar. It should be used in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet.
Are there any downsides to using organic invert syrup?
There are a few potential downsides to using organic invert syrup compared to other liquid sweeteners:
- Higher price – Organic invert syrup tends to cost more than corn syrup and regular cane sugar syrup. However, you can use around 25-30% less organic invert syrup.
- Glycemic impact – While lower than sucrose, organic invert syrup is still a concentrated source of sugars. Individuals with diabetes need to account for this.
- Not sugar-free – Unlike nonnutritive sweeteners, organic invert syrup does contain calories from sugar which must be accounted for.
- Limited availability – You may need to shop at health food stores or online instead of regular grocery stores to find organic invert syrup.
Overall, organic invert syrup is generally considered safe for most people when used moderately. The higher cost and glycemic impact are the main potential downsides for consumers.
What does organic invert syrup taste like?
The taste of organic invert syrup can vary substantially depending on the exact production method used. But in general:
- Enzyme-inverted syrup has a very clean, pure sweetness similar to honey or agave nectar.
- Acid-inverted syrup has notes of butterscotch, caramel, or toffee from the chemical reactions.
- Thermally inverted syrup has a rich, dark caramelized flavor from the prolonged heating.
Compared to regular corn syrup, organic invert syrup tends to have a purer, more nuanced sweetness. It has a viscosity and glossy appearance similar to honey. The overall flavor can range from delicate and neutral to rich and caramel-like.
Is there a difference between invert syrup and inverted sugar?
Invert syrup and inverted sugar are very similar, but have a couple minor differences:
- Invert syrup – A viscous, pourable liquid sweetener made by splitting sucrose into glucose and fructose.
- Inverted sugar – A crystalline sweetener made by splitting sucrose into individual sugars. It has a texture like granulated sugar.
Both undergo the process of inversion to turn sucrose into glucose and fructose. The main difference is that invert syrup has moisture, which keeps it fluid. Inverted sugar has had the moisture removed to produce dry crystals.
Invert syrup and inverted sugar can often be used interchangeably in recipes, since they contain roughly the same sweetening power and sugar composition. Invert syrup provides more moisture, while inverted sugar has a dry texture. The exact substitution ratio depends on the recipe.
What is the shelf life of organic invert syrup?
Unopened organic invert syrup has an excellent shelf life of about:
- 18-24 months at room temperature
- 2-3 years refrigerated
Once opened, organic invert syrup will keep for approximately:
- 6-8 months at room temperature
- 1-2 years refrigerated
The high sugar content and lack of moisture means organic invert syrup is resistant to spoilage. Refrigeration extends the shelf life even further. Signs of possible spoilage include mold, changes in texture, an off smell, or separation.
Is organic invert syrup vegan?
Yes, organic invert syrup is generally vegan. It is made purely from plant sources like organic sugarcane or organic sugar beets. No animal products or byproducts are used during cultivation of the crops or production of the syrup.
As with any food product, it’s a good idea to check the ingredient list to confirm the particular brand of organic invert syrup is vegan. But typically no animal ingredients will be present.
Is organic invert syrup gluten-free?
Yes, organic invert syrup is naturally gluten-free. Since it is produced from organic sugarcane and/or organic sugar beets, it does not contain any gluten-containing grains.
As with any food, double check the label of your particular brand of organic invert syrup to confirm it is certified gluten-free. But syrup made solely from organic sugarcane or organic sugar beets will not contain any gluten proteins.
Can you substitute organic invert syrup for honey?
In most cases, organic invert syrup can be used as a direct replacement for honey in recipes. The similarities include:
- Sweetness – Organic invert syrup provides equivalent sweetening power as the same amount of honey.
- Moisture – Syrup and honey both contain around 20% water, giving them a similar viscosity.
- Solubility – Honey and syrup dissolve and blend into liquids and batters comparably.
- Flavor – While not exactly the same, organic invert syrup has floral, fruity notes similar to honey.
The main differences are that invert syrup has a more neutral flavor, while honey provides distinct floral, varietal flavors. Organic invert syrup is also vegan, while honey is an animal product.
For baking, cooking, sweetening drinks, and other applications, you can substitute organic invert syrup 1:1 for honey. The results may have slightly different flavors, but the sweetness and moisture levels will be comparable.
Can you substitute organic invert syrup for maple syrup?
Organic invert syrup can be substituted for maple syrup, though the flavors will be quite different. To account for the significant differences in sweetness and flavor, use this substitution ratio:
- 1 cup maple syrup = 3/4 cup organic invert syrup + 1/4 cup water
The water helps thin out the invert syrup to a more similar consistency as maple syrup. You may wish to add a small pinch of cinnamon or maple extract to better mimic the maple flavors.
Keep in mind that maple syrup has a glycemic index of around 54, while organic invert syrup has a glycemic index of about 65. So the syrup substitution will change the blood sugar impact.
Overall, organic invert syrup can be used in place of maple syrup in recipes, but expect some notable differences in taste and thickness.
Can you substitute organic invert syrup for corn syrup?
Organic invert syrup can easily be substituted for corn syrup in most recipes. The main consideration is the difference in sweetness:
- Corn syrup is only about 30-50% as sweet as table sugar (sucrose).
- Organic invert syrup is around 30-50% sweeter than table sugar.
So you’ll need to use about half as much organic invert syrup as corn syrup to achieve an equivalent sweetness level:
- 1 cup corn syrup = 1/2 cup organic invert syrup
Both corn syrup and organic invert syrup have similar viscosities and moisture levels. They also don’t tend to crystallize. So organic invert syrup makes an excellent 1:1 substitution for corn syrup if you adjust for sweetness differences.
Can you make your own organic invert syrup?
It is possible to make homemade organic invert syrup using just two ingredients:
- Organic cane sugar
- Water
To make the syrup, combine equal parts organic cane sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently.
Allow the mixture to simmer for about 30-60 minutes until it takes on a thick, syrupy consistency. The longer it cooks, the deeper the caramelized flavor will become.
Let the homemade invert syrup cool completely before bottling. It will thicken further as it cools. The syrup keeps for several months stored at room temperature.
While not exactly the same as commercial organic invert syrup, the homemade version provides a cost-effective alternative with minimal ingredients.
Where can you buy organic invert syrup?
Organic invert syrup can be purchased from the following places:
- Health food stores – Check the syrup or sweetener aisle at stores like Whole Foods, Sprouts, or Earth Fare.
- Specialty grocery stores – Some gourmet grocers like Dean & Deluca may carry it.
- Online retailers – Purchase organic invert syrup online from Amazon, Vitacost, Walmart, or smaller specialty shops.
- Restaurant supply stores – Stores providing ingredients to restaurants and food manufacturers may sell bulk sizes.
The best selection is typically at health food stores or online. Be sure to look for brands that are certified USDA Organic.
Is there a substitute if you don’t have organic invert syrup?
If you don’t have organic invert syrup on hand, there are a few possible substitutions depending on the application:
- For baking – Use an equal amount of organic honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar
- For mixing into drinks – Try using simple syrup
- For candy making – Substitute corn syrup or glucose syrup
- For sauces – Use organic cane sugar dissolved into water
Each substitution will result in slight differences in sweetness, moisture, flavor, and texture. But in a pinch, the above swaps can work when you’re out of organic invert syrup.
Conclusion
Organic invert syrup is a nutritious, plant-based sweetener made by splitting organic sucrose into fructose and glucose. It has a sweeter, more nuanced flavor than regular syrup. Organic invert syrup works well as a sugar substitute in baked goods, candies, beverages, sauces, and more. When used in moderation, it can provide health advantages compared to table sugar and corn syrup. Look for certified organic, GMO-free brands of invert syrup at health food stores or online.
