Sugar Substitute

Buy Sugar Substitutes – Sweeten Without Sugar

Whether it's a low-carb diet, diabetes, fructose intolerance, or simply the desire to eat less sugar: sugar substitutes make it possible to enjoy sweetness without relying on conventional household sugar. At zukono, you will find a wide selection of sugar substitutes and sweeteners – from Erythritol to Xylitol (Birch Sugar) to Stevia – as well as countless foods, candies, and beverages sweetened with them.

However, not all sugar substitutes are the same: the alternatives differ in calories, sweetness, taste, baking properties, and tolerability. This page gives you an overview so you can find the right substitute for your everyday life.

The Most Important Sugar Substitutes Compared

For comparison: household sugar provides about 400 kcal per 100 g with a glycemic index of about 65–70. Sugar alcohols like Erythritol, Xylitol, Maltitol, and Sorbitol are uniformly calculated in the EU at 2.4 kcal per gram – only Erythritol is the exception with 0 kcal, as the body excretes it almost unchanged.

Our Sugar Substitute Categories

• Erythritol – nearly calorie-free, very well tolerated, ideal for low carb
• Xylitol (Birch Sugar) – sweetens 1:1 like sugar and is tooth-friendly
• Stevia – plant-based, calorie-free, with high sweetness
• Maltitol – the classic in sugar-free chocolate
• Sorbitol – proven sugar substitute (not for sorbitol intolerance)
• Isomalt – heat-stable, popular for candies
• Sucralose – intense sweetener without calories
• Acesulfame K – heat-resistant sweetener
• Polydextrose – fiber with mild sweetness
• Rice Syrup – fructose-free, natural sweetness
• Glucose / Dextrose – the fructose-free choice for fructose intolerance

Which Sugar Substitute is Right for You?

For Baking

Xylitol can be used 1:1 like sugar and is suitable for almost all recipes – only yeast dough does not rise with it, as yeast cannot utilize xylitol. Erythritol also works well; due to its lower sweetness, you use about 30 % more and account for a slight cooling effect on the tongue. Maltitol caramelizes similarly to sugar.

For Low Carb & Keto

Erythritol and Stevia provide virtually no usable carbohydrates and do not affect blood sugar – the first choice for a ketogenic or low-carb diet. More about this in our guide Integrating Low Carb into Your Diet.

For Diabetes

Sugar substitutes with a glycemic index of 0 (Erythritol, Stevia) leave blood sugar levels virtually untouched. Maltitol and Sorbitol have a significantly weaker effect on blood sugar than sugar but are not without effect. Why zukono is interesting for diabetics can be read here in the blog.

For Intolerances

For fructose intolerance, glucose/dextrose and rice syrup are the safe choice; you should avoid sorbitol as it further inhibits fructose absorption. Our Fructose-Glucose Ratio Table and the article on fructose-reduced diet help with selection. All products for special dietary needs can be found under Intolerances.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sugar Substitutes

Which sugar substitute tastes most like sugar?

Xylitol comes closest to sugar in taste: same sweetness, no aftertaste. Erythritol also tastes neutral but is slightly less sweet and has a slight cooling effect. Stevia has a licorice-like aftertaste depending on the dosage.

Are sugar substitutes healthier than sugar?

They provide fewer or no calories, do not cause cavities, and cause blood sugar to rise more slowly or not at all. How too much sugar affects the body is explained in our article What Happens with Excess Sugar Consumption.

Can sugar alcohols cause digestive problems?

Sugar alcohols like Maltitol, Sorbitol, and Xylitol can have a laxative effect in larger amounts – the note "may cause a laxative effect with excessive consumption" is therefore mandatory. Erythritol is the exception here: it is considered the best-tolerated sugar substitute.

Is sugar substitute suitable for pets?

No! Especially Xylitol is toxic to dogs even in small amounts. Always keep products with sugar substitutes out of reach of pets.

What is the difference between sugar substitutes and sweeteners?

Sugar substitutes (Erythritol, Xylitol, Maltitol, Sorbitol, Isomalt) are sugar alcohols with mass and volume – they physically replace sugar, for example, in baking. Sweeteners (Stevia, Sucralose, Acesulfame K) sweeten in highly concentrated tiny amounts but do not provide volume.