Natural Sweeteners
What is Cacao?
Cacao is a powerhouse ingredient with a rich history and a growing presence in health-conscious kitchens. From its origins as a sacred plant in ancient Mesoamerican cultures to its modern-day role as a superfood, cacao offers a wealth of benefits and versatility.
Honey vs. Agave: A Sweet Debate
When it comes to natural sweeteners, honey and agave syrup often emerge as popular contenders in the kitchen. Both offer unique flavors, culinary versatility, and perceived benefits, making them staples for health-conscious individuals. But how do these two sweeteners stack up nutritionally and environmentally?
Jelly vs. Jam: Preserves, Conserves & More
Get ready for the culinary timeline you never knew you needed, our favorite recipes, and best jars to stock your pantry.
Sweeten to Taste: A Guide to Sugars and Alternative Sweeteners
There are lots of different types of sugars out there, and just as many sugar alternatives waiting to replace them. Whether you’re looking to cut out sugar entirely, scale back your sugar intake, or even to replace your tried-and-true sugar with a different type of sweetener (monkfruit, anyone?), we’ve assembled a handy guide to help ...
We Put This Small-Batch Raw Honey on Everything and Here’s Why
We’re committed to raising the bar for your favorite pantry essentials—and that includes the irresistible golden superfood, honey. We’ve added three small-batch raw honeys to our Thrive Market branded products line: Non-GMO Avocado Honey, Organic Wildflower Honey, and Organic Creamy Highland Honey.
Paleo Snack Solve: Gluten-Free Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins
Good luck keeping your hands off this batch of gluten-free treats. Each muffin is packed with shredded zucchini, a handful of chocolate chips, and a trio of GF flours (almond, coconut, and cassava). It’s the perfect paleo-friendly snack, quick breakfast, or even post-dinner nibble. These muffins freeze well, but we don’t think you’ll have a ...
Keto Vanilla Pudding Recipe
Think you can’t indulge a sweet tooth while going keto? Think again. Just follow our recipe for a creamy, make-ahead pudding infused with unsweetened almond milk, rich vanilla bean seeds, gelatin, and one of our favorite alternative sweeteners. Aside from tempering the eggs to avoid curdling (a simple process involving a whisk and a steady ...
Stevia vs. Sugar: Health Benefits & Nutrition Facts
Life is always a little bit sweeter when sugar is involved. Mary Poppins used sugar to make the medicine go down well. But would a modern Ms. Poppins use stevia? What’s the difference between sugar vs stevia? Gone are the days when white sugar is the only pick—alternative sweeteners have become increasingly accessible in recent ...
Video: What Is Swerve?
Alternative sweeteners are having a moment, and Swerve is one of the rising stars. This brand is popular with diabetics, keto enthusiasts, and anyone looking to indulge without overdoing it.
Maple Syrup vs. Honey
When you think about maple syrup and honey, two naturally derived, naturally sugary foods, you can’t help but wonder if Mother Nature might have a sweet tooth. While one is an essential for just about any brunch food, the other is downright decadent when drizzled over both sweet and savory dishes (or enjoyed all on ...
Molasses vs. Maple Syrup
There’s a lot to love about molasses and maple syrup (like the fact that they’re top-notch natural sweetener options) but what’s really the difference between these deeply hued nectars? Deciding between these two ingredients doesn’t have to become sticky situation—here’s our side-by-side comparison of the difference between molasses and maple syrup.
What Is Manuka Honey?
Manuka honey goes mainstream! At least, that’s the mission behind Wedderspoon, a New Zealand-based company that heads straight to the source to fill every jar with its golden nectar. It all started in 2005, when Sébastien Martin and Catherine Wedderspoon-Martin realized Manuka honey—one of the world’s most highly sought-after holistic ingredients—was relatively unknown in North ...
Is Monk Fruit the Best Natural Sweetener?
The world of alternative sweeteners is so vast you might feel like you need a tour guide when you start exploring. There are some popular options you’ve probably heard of, like stevia and honey, but today we’re digging into a lesser known pick that’s quickly becoming a sugar-swap darling: monk fruit.
Recipes With Honey
What’s all the buzz about? Well, honey is about to become your go-to sweetener (if it isn’t already). From overnight oats to baked brie, this nectar is perfect for meals from breakfast to dinner, and we’ve got all the deets on swapping honey into baked goods and making it the star of your next dish.
How Beekeeper’s Naturals Helps Keep Bees In Business
In 2006, beekeepers began reporting a strange trend—30 to 60 percent of their bee colonies went missing. Early on there was no explanation, but researchers have now identified the phenomenon as Colony Collapse Disorder, which occurs when the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear, leaving behind a queen, extra food, and a handful ...
What Is High-Fructose Corn Syrup?
From pecan pie to homemade marshmallows, there’s a chance your favorite dessert recipe calls for corn syrup. This liquid sweetener is known for adding sheen to ganache, keeping caramel smooth, and giving homemade candy the perfect chewy texture, so what’s not to love? Well, since both corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup (they’re different!) are ...
Is Honey Vegan?
This is a question asked by many vegans as they plan their diets and prepare their meals. Many food items are easy enough to identify as vegan-friendly, while others clearly go against the vegan diet. Blueberries are a great vegan snack. Cheese, not so much. A tasty lemonade is a great drink for vegans if ...
The Superfood You’ll Want to Sprinkle on Everything
Exotic superfoods are all the rage these days (hello, goji berries), which is why we’re excited to tell you about a new one on our radar—baobab! If you’re looking to sneak some extra nutrients into your diet, look no further, because the fruit from this ancient tree grinds down into a superfood powder that you’ll ...
Bye-Bye, Sugar! Make Room in Your Pantry for These Organic Sweeteners
The alternative sweeteners space can be confusing, but it stems from a very clear problem: many of us eat way too much refined sugar. So what’s the best option if you’re trying to ditch the stuff for good? Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer. But Thrive Market’s line of ethically sourced, top-quality sweeteners has a ...
Nip Sugar Cravings in the Bud With This Rich and Satisfying 60-Calorie Coconut Treat
By now you’re probably somewhat familiar with the many benefits of coconut oil. It appears to help raise levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL), has been shown to help offset the adverse effects of hypertension and stress on the body in animal studies, and even shows promise as a fat-reduction aid.
Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Pop That Gummy Vitamin
Confession: I’m a gummy addict. Peach-flavored, Coke bottle-shaped, sour watermelon, neon worms—I want them all. But I’m a health coach. And sugar … it’s not great for you. So I don’t indulge my cravings all that often.
17 Natural Cough Remedies
The cough might be the most annoying of all cold symptoms. The body spasms, the raw feeling in the back of your throat—and the fact that it might wake you up in the middle of the night and even draw glares from your cubicle mate at work. Not to mention it can seem impossible to ...
Using Honey As A Sweetener
It takes 60,000 or so bees and nearly 2 million flowers to craft one pound of honey, the sticky and sweet substance we spoon into coffee and tea—but that’s not the only reason that raw honey deserves respect.
How to Kick Your Sugar Habit In Just 3 Days
Mmm…donuts. When it comes to sugar, Homer Simpson is the everyman. His drooling reaction to donuts might as well be any of us at the grocery store, staring at racks of cupcakes, candies, and sodas. Collectively, we’re a nation addicted. But you don’t have to be.