Yacon Syrup | The Healthier Choice for Natural Sweetness
Yacon Syrup is a rich, malty sweetener with a subtle, natural sweetness. It's perfect for spreading on bread or crackers, where its deep flavour can really shine. Unlike other sweeteners, yacon isn’t overpoweringly sweet — so if you have a serious sweet tooth, it might not fully satisfy your cravings. But if you’re looking for one of the healthiest, most balanced natural sweeteners available, yacon is an excellent choice. Loved for its low glycaemic profile and gentle sweetness, it’s a fantastic way to enjoy a touch of indulgence while keeping your wellbeing in mind.
Yacon is a remarkable root vegetable native to the Andes of Peru, with a taste and texture similar to parsnip but with a naturally sweet edge. Traditionally enjoyed in its native region, yacon is especially valued for its naturally high content of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) — a form of sugar that passes through the body without being absorbed, making it an excellent choice for those looking to reduce sugar intake.
Because of its unique status, the whole yacon root is not permitted for export from Peru, which is why it remains less familiar in the West. And until relatively recently, yacon was restricted under the EU Novel Foods Act, only approved for sale in the EU in 2014. Now, this once-hidden treasure is available for all to enjoy.
Naturally low in calories and with a glycaemic index of just 1, yacon offers gentle, balanced sweetness without raising blood glucose levels — great news for anyone watching their sugar intake. Alongside stevia, it stands as one of our top recommendations for those seeking natural sugar alternatives.
Nutritional highlights:
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS): A prebiotic fibre that supports healthy digestion
Low glycaemic index (GI of 1): Does not raise blood glucose levels
Potassium: Contributes to normal muscle function and electrolyte balance
Antioxidants: Help to protect cells from oxidative stress
Discover the natural sweetness of yacon — a rare Andean gem.
Ingredients
100% Organic Yacon Root
Nutritional Information
Nutritional Information
per 100g
Energy
344 Kcal 1440 kj
Fat
0.2g
of which saturates
-
Carbohydrate
85.6g
- of which sugars
-
Dietary Fiber
0.5g
Protein
0g
Salt
-
Further Information
Our yacon is produced by a farmer named Lucho Alva. Lucho proudly owns a 1000 hectares farm, inherited from his father. In the 90´s the region was very dangerous due to terrorist groups. At that time he had to flee from his home after his father was assassinated by teterrorist groups.Years later he went back to his land, and today he has became the largest organic yacon farmer in Peru. He employs over 100 people for his operation and provides free technical assistance to neighbor communities in organic production.
Our Yacon syrup is concentrated at low temperatures, but need to be pasteurized before filling bulk bins to eliminate mold spores. In Yacon, the most important nutrient is the FOS content. Because of this process, our supplier is the only company that assures minimum 30% FOS in our product. FOS is not heat stable so products excessively heated will have lower content of it and higher glycemic index due to production of short chain sugars from FOS fractions.
Our yacon syrup is produced by hand-selecting the roots, then washing, disinfecting and peeling them. After this they are pressed, filtered, vacuum concentrated, filtered again and bottled. Our yacon syrup is guaranteed raw; most other yacon syrups on the market are heated during pressing and pasteurised so they are not raw.
It is an important crop in South America. It has been grown since ancient times on the eastern slopes of the Andes, from venezuela to north western Argentina. It was a trandtional crop of the original Peruvian populations. Yacon is favoured for its juicy tuberous root which have been used for centuries as a traditional folk treatment.
Podcast
To learn more about the Peruvian farming co-operative that we source these products from, click here. Full of fascinating insights into how to produce truly raw products, and the unique manufacturing processes that are needed to ensure that these raw organic foods are premium quality, and produced with high regard for the environment and the farmers.
Raw Living was founded in Sep 2002. As a celebration of 20 years in business, we talked to some of our oldest and best customers about why they love Raw Living: the products, the service, and the ethos. Click here to play the episode.
How To Use
Spread on bread or crackers for a natural, malty sweetness.
Perfect as a topping for yoghurt or ice-cream.
Great in dressing or marinades for a balanced sweet and savoury kick.
