Why I love Chicory Root Syrup - Erica, Homespun

Versatile and delicious, Chicory Root Syrup has become a staple in my kitchen. Here’s why.

I discovered Chicory Root Syrup a couple of years ago when researching innovative ways of developing sweet treats with lower sugar.

In truth, I stumbled on it and while I was intrigued by this delicious honey-style nectar, I didn’t have any immediate intention of bringing it to the market as an end product in its own right.

But as I began to play around with it and fold it into more and more recipes in my kitchen, I became fascinated by this delicate syrup and its enormous potential to bring low sugar sweetness to home baking and cooking and never one to do things by halves, I dived straight down a Chicory Root rabbit hole, a decision I have never regretted! This led to the launch of Homespun Chicory Syrup in August 2020 and now almost six months later our new product is stocked in multiple stores in Ireland, ranging from health stores to artisan food shops as well as Irelands leading retailer, Supervalu.

The root of the pretty chicory plant has been valued for centuries for its healthy properties. It is one of nature’s richest sources of inulin - a type of soluble prebiotic fibre found in many plants. Inulin is deeply beneficial for our systems and our wellbeing, in terms of better digestion and gut health and reducing inflammation.

Chicory Root Syrup is gently extracted from fresh chicory roots and is an entirely natural product. This delicate syrup, which has the nectar like viscosity of honey, has a mild sweet taste. However it has a fraction of the sugars of granulated sugar, honey, maple syrup or agave syrup, containing just 14g of sugar per 100g (for context, honey is 80g of sugar per 100g).

Furthermore, it is low GI (Glycemic Index) and is scientifically proven to keep blood sugars low, meaning no blood sugar spike and subsequent crash. This means Chicory Root Syrup can be enjoyed by diabetics or anyone monitoring sugar intake. Not only that, but being entirely plant-based, Chicory Root Syrup is vegan friendly.

For me, the best part of all is the taste. Chicory Syrup has a gentle sweet taste and it is ideal if you wish to add a touch of sweetness to a dish or a drink, rather than intense overpowering sweetness. It is incredibly versatile and can be used as a honey alternative in all manner of home cooking and baking and its become a staple ingredient in my kitchen. If like me you have a sweet tooth but want to minimise sugar and enjoy the gut health benefits of prebiotic fibre, its the perfect product for you.

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