Home » Ingredients » What is Monkfruit

What is Monkfruit

I got a quick lesson on monk fruit — or monkfruit since some people spell it as one word — at the Fancy Food Show recently. The folks from Lakanto The Original Monkfruit Sweetener were showing me all of the products that will be hitting store shelves soon. And so they were telling anyone stopping by their booth exactly what a monk fruit is, where it comes from and how it has become the go-to keto and low-carb sweetener.

Pin
Photo credit: Leah Ingram.

What is Monkfruit

They were explaining that monk fruit grows on a tree like other fruits, such as bananas or peaches or avocados. In fact, I think the monk fruit — the actual fruit — looks more like a smooth avocado than anything else. Unlike an avocado, you do not typically eat monk fruit in its natural form. Instead, it needs to be processed into the sweetener we all know and love.

Like other artificial sweeteners — and I use the word artificial only because that’s how the industry refers to anything other than sugar — monk fruit is extremely sweet. By some accounts, monk fruit extract is 150 to 200 times sweeter than sugar. Other sweeteners are, too, such as stevia. Unlike stevia, which can have a bitter aftertaste, monkfruit is known for its clean, sweet flavor.

Monk fruit also has zero calories. Technically, it has zero net carbs, because it also contains erythritol, a sugar alcohol. It’s supposed to improve the texture of this sweetener and I’m sure it does. However, if you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols — I am — you might experience some digestive upset from them. So, use this sweetener sparingly.

To create monkfruit sweetener, manufacturers extract the juice from the fruit and remove the seeds and skin. They then dry the juice into a powder concentrate, which is then mixed with other ingredients like erythritol as mentioned earlier.

Using Monk Fruit in Recipes

When considering monk fruit as a sugar alternative, it’s important to understand its uses and limitations. Monk fruit sweetener works well in beverages, such as this sugar free pina colada recipe. It can work in baked goods and also as a tabletop sweetener in coffee and tea, too. I’d love to try it in a s’mores latte.

However, it may not brown or caramelize like sugar. So if you’re going for that kind of effect with your low-carb recipes, you may not get the finished product you expect. I suggest experimenting with monk fruit in place of sugar to see what works for you and your taste preferences.

One of the recipes where monkfruit has worked for us is in our lupin flour brownies. It is one of the most popular baked goods recipes on this blog.

Fun Facts About Monk Fruit

Monkfruit grows in high altitudes, specifically in the mountains of Southern China. The fruit thrives in specific climatic conditions — a combination of high humidity, cool temperatures and ample shade.

Also, monk fruit is so called because of the people who first cultivated it. They were 13th century Buddhist monks.

Where to Buy Monk Fruit Sweeteners

While Lakanto is the best-known brand selling monk fruit sweetener, I just discovered that Splenda has a monk fruit sweetener now, too. Like Lakanto, theirs is mixed with erythritol. I supposed it shouldn’t be surprising that Splenda has a version since they also offer a Stevia sweetener. You can buy all of these brands online.

SPLENDA Monk Fruit Zero Calorie Plant Based Granulated Sweetener Jar, 19 oz
  • Measures Same as Sugar – Measures cup for cup, the same as sugar. great for replacing sugar in all of your favorite baking and cooking recipes. Sprinkle on oatmeal, sweeten your coffee or tea, mix in…
  • Keto Friendly and More – 0g net carbs, Splenda monk fruit is keto friendly, low-carb, 100% natural with no sugar and is suitable for individuals with diabetes.
  • Sweeter – Splenda monk fruit gets its unique sweetness from the monk fruit, also known as han goo – a small round fruit that is 150-200 times sweeter than sugar
SPLENDA Stevia Zero Calorie Sweetener for Baking, Plant Based Sugar Substitute Granulated Powder,…
  • US GROWN: Splenda is proud to announce our new stevia farm located in Central Florida. Splenda is dedicated to sustainable, natural, socially-responsible farming.
  • BEST TASTING STEVIA: Unlike other stevia brands that can be bitter from Reb A, our unique sweetness comes from the tastiest part of the stevia leaf, rich in Reb D
  • ALL-PURPOSE SWEETENER: Use anywhere you would use sugar including in baking, sauces and drinks