Just rcvd this and several other sweeteners, and thought to share. I am doing keto, and hate to go without sweet stuff. So, I ordered (and have otherwise used) a bunch of different types of sweeteners in place of Splenda, since learning of its hidden carbs. Of all the products have tried, I LOVE this one the best. It is, in fact, so much like real sugar that I am suspicious. No cool sensation. No bitter aftertaste I tried and pretend isn't there. It just doesn't taste artificial at all. If this doesn't interrupt my ketosis, I don't know that I'll go back to real sugar ever again - it's just that good.

In order of preferences, here are the other sugars I have tried, and my opinion of them. I've not cooked with all of them. I evaluated them by tasting just a dab on my fingertip, so if it was supposed to be mixed with something to cut/enhance the taste, well, that didn't happen.

1. XYLOSWEET XYLITOL NATURAL SWEETENER - see above. Also, this comes in a 2# & 5# bags, which I love. Doesn't seem to come as confectioner - sad face.

2. LAKANTO MONKFRUIT 1:1 SUGAR SUBSTITUTE - A second close to Xylo. Slight cooling on the tongue and a *barely barely barely* discernible after taste. This will be my go to if I can't immediately put my hands on the Xylo. This also seems to have as a confectioner, and in 3# bags.

3. SWERVE SWEETENERS (both confectioners & granulated) - fairly decent, but this is about where the sweeteners started slipping below that "tastes real" line. Cooled on the tongue, tasted sweet, with no aftertaste, but ... also tasted like sugar substitute, if that makes any sense. Like, if I picked up a cookie with this in it, I'd know I was eating a fake cookie. Not so with 1 & 2. PRO: confection form.

4. PYURE ORGANIC ALL-PURPOSE STEVIA SWEETENER - Bought early last year. The bag is only missing that little tiny bit I put on the tip of my finger. Yeah, so, that. Bitter - like BITING bitter.

5. PURE MONK (Julian) - Just got it the day-before yesterday. Thinking about dumping it out, rinsing the jar, and using it to hold my makeup sponges. Oh yeah - this was the most expensive of them all. So...

I've been using XyolSweet for about 5 years, having previous used several other brands of Xylitol. Besides this being the best buy (in the 5 # bag) it also seems to be the purist. There were a lot of comments in the reviews saying it's made from corn, but my research shows it's not...but rather 100% GMO-free birch byproducts. Do your own research tho, if you're skeptical.

I love that I can sweeten my protein shakes, cereal, coffee, tea, peanut butter, sugar-free yogurt, baked goods and so much more w/o the harmful elements of sugar. I HIGHLY recommend this product and everyone I've introduced it to, including diabetics, love it as well. Just FYI, I'm not in any way related to the seller or anyone else with associate with this company or brand. Sometimes over-enthusiastic reviewers seem suspect to me and I don't want to sound like that. I just know that for me, it's one of my essential pantry items.

Been using Xylo about 6 yrs. now because hubby was diagnosed with diabetes and we were trying to reduce sugar intake. Xylo helped me to reduce his reliance on sugar by (1) mimicking the texture of sugar so I could continue to bake recipes with equal substitution before transitioning to recipes that include 1/4 cup or less of sugar (substituted with Xylo), (2) tasting less sweet than sugar but still providing a touch of sweetness, (3) easing the transition to not buying sugar anymore because Xylo is pricey so we slowly weaned away from using it to avoid the extra expense. Once we learned to reduce sugar and salt intake we reduced our reliance on sugar and then Xylo. Glad to find it on Amazon because the local health store charged a hefty price. Now they no longer carry it. To me, Xylo is the closest to the texture of sugar. Sure it's not as sweet but if you're trying to cut down on sugar intake Xylo is the ticket. I've tried coconut sugar (makes spots and weird markings on baked goods) and don't care for the taste of xylitol and sugar substitutes. Now, I have Xylo in my pantry if needed, and grow the Xylitol plant to sweeten our tea in summer. Changed diet and eating habits, and exercise more. Hubby is no longer diabetic. Life is good!

My dentist advised I use xylitol mouthwash and candy for my dry mouth condition, and when I discovered it tasted almost identical to regular sugar, had no unpleasant aftertaste, and could be used in recipes with identical measure to sugar (not for recipes involving yeast or most candy), I started using it to sweeten my coffee and occasionally in cooking. It's also helpful with no spikes to my blood sugar, as I have hypoglycemia. Now I've started making my own candy with it and LorAnn flavoring oils to save money, and it's working out great.

I've tried three brands of xylitol, and those made from birch have the best taste. NOW Foods brand xylitol is made from corn and has a different taste that I like less, so even though it's a little less expensive, I don't use it.

I chose non gmo corn over birch tree cus it's environmentally friendly.. taste like sugar but the only thing that bothers me is that it gives me diarrhea after 1-2 hours. I guess my body is not adopting it. I'm hesitant to use it on my baking cus I don't want my kids to have the same effect.. so I'm using it exclusively but hey it's good for colon flush I guess