the kind life

The Healthiest Sweetener: Brown Rice Syrup

Brown rice syrup is a commonly used ingredient in the macrobiotic community, but as this article attests, people from all walks of life are starting to discover it.
Syrup pouring.

Brown rice syrup is a commonly used ingredient in macrobiotic cooking, but as this article explains, people from all walks of life are starting to discover it. If I need a sweetener, brown rice syrup is always my first choice. It is still a sweetener so it’s not a healthy food and you shouldn’t go out of your way to eat it, but when you need a sweetener, it’s the best choice.

Brown rice syrup raises your blood sugar, but doesn’t make you crash the way other sweeteners do. Because it’s a complex carb, it delivers a more mellow taste that still satisfies your sweet tooth. Every other sweetener, except maybe stevia, makes me feel like I’m jacked up. My heart pounds, my head hurts, and then I crash… it tastes great, but then I feel terrible. Brown rice syrup is gentle on me — and I am very grateful. (Check out page 68 ofThe Kind Diet for more info about how brown rice syrup is made.)

I love to make a sweet kuzu drink with brown rice syrup and Bear loves it too. It’s very relaxing and has a subtle sweet taste. If I’m feeling frisky and am craving something wild, this sweet kuzu drink satisfies my sweet craving and takes the edge off so I don’t need a full-on dessert.

Hot Sweet Kuzu Drink:

Inredients:
1 tsp kuzu
1-2 tsp brown rice syrup

Directions:
In a cup, add about 2 Tbsp. of water to the kuzu and stir it until it dissolves. Add water to this mix to fill the cup, about 1 cup of water or a mug-full. Pour into a small pot and heat on medium, stirring constantly, until the liquid becomes translucent. Add the brown rice syrup and continue stirring until it dissolves. Pour back into your mug and then drink it hot.

Here are some other ways I like to enjoy brown rice syrup:

  • In my Crispy Peanut Butter Treats with Chocolate Chips (page 184 in The Kind Diet)
  • In the topping for my Peach Crumble (page 194 in The Kind Diet)
  • In my Mom’s Granola recipe (page 201 in The Kind Diet). This is a seriously yum dessert!
  • In my Mochi Waffles and Pan-Fried Mochi – this is one of my favorite superhero snacks! It’s also a great breakfast option, especially for kids, athletes, breastfeeding mamas, and pregnant ladies. Plus, it’ssupertasty!
  • In my Candied Ginger Pears and my Plum Soup (page 280 in The Kind Diet) – both delicious superhero desserts.

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