Xylitol (Berkensuiker)

What is Xylitol (Birch Sugar)?

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol (polyol) that is beneficial for the skin when you use it in care products, but is also a delicious sugar substitute in your favorite baked goods. In short: a versatile ingredient.

Xylitol occurs naturally in plants: from fruits to vegetables and mushrooms to trees. The Xylitol we sell is extracted from sustainably grown birch trees and is therefore also called birch sugar. Xylitol is also referred to by the E-number 967.

Benefits

Hydrates the skin and strengthens the skin barrier

Xylitol has a moisturizing effect on the skin and can increase the amount of hyaluronic acid in the skin, an acid that is important for healthy collagen production. Xylitol contributes to strengthening the skin barrier and preventing premature skin aging.

Natural alternative to sugar

Xylitol occurs naturally in berries, corn, oats, mushrooms, and the bark of various trees, including birch. The sugar alcohol is almost as sweet as sucrose, but contains only 2/3 the amount of calories. Xylitol is therefore widely used as a sugar substitute, partly thanks to its neutral taste.

Oral hygiene

Xylitol is also often used as a seasoning in products for maintaining your teeth. For example, almost every toothpaste contains xylitol and it is often found in chewing gum for white teeth. Unlike sugar, xylitol does not directly affect your teeth, in fact, xylitol contributes to a balanced pH value in your mouth and the prevention of plaque.

How do you use it?

In DIY care products: from toothpaste to day cream

When you use Xylitol in personal care products, it is important that you grind the granules into a fine powder. Otherwise, your product will have a coarse texture, which will not feel pleasant on the skin or in your mouth.

In the kitchen

Xylitol is a very easy sugar substitute, because you can replace the ingredient 1:1. That means that if a recipe calls for 200 grams of sugar, you can replace it with 200 grams of Xylitol. So you don't have to convert anything.

Make sure that Xylitol does not caramelize or melt. If that is your goal, you cannot use Xylitol as a sugar substitute. Even when you make baked goods that have to rise with the help of yeast (such as bread), Xylitol can get in the way of this process.

Cookies with Xylitol instead of sugar sometimes need to be taken out of the oven a little earlier, so keep an eye on them! In addition, Xylitol absorbs more moisture than sugar, which sometimes requires you to add more moist ingredients to your recipe. A little soy yogurt can do wonders to get the desired structure.

You can also use Xylitol as a sugar substitute in your coffee or tea.

What is so special about it?

Xylitol is harvested from sustainably grown birch trees in Scandinavia and Finland, without genetic engineering. This makes Xylitol a 100% natural sugar substitute and beauty ingredient.