Russell James
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25

May

Raw Food Recipe: Date Sweetener (Alternative To Agave)

Saved in:-   Raw Food Diet Video,Raw Food Recipes

Seeing as there’s a lot of conversation going on about whether agave has a place in a healthy right now, I’ve made a little video showing you how to simply make a whole food sweetener from just dates and water.

I get asked about my views on agave fairly often and the aim making this video is to provide an alternative for those people that want another option. It doesn’t mean I am saying agave is or isn’t ‘good’ or ‘bad’, that’s for another conversation.

I think there’s more conversation to be had about agave and with that said, here’s another great whole food alternative.

Remember to leave me a comment under the video and, if you’re on Twitter, ‘retweet’ or if you’re on Facebook click the ‘Share’ button :)

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For more information take a look at the my other Raw Food Recipes.

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  • Rejuvin8
    Hi Russell, I enjoyed this video. Whilst I have been making a similar date/water combo to use as a sweetener it has never looked like yours. Seeing how lovely your mixture turned out convinced me that the vita-mix blender has to be added to my shopping list as I move closer to a raw food diet. Thank you for your clear instruction.
  • Terijogs
    Excellent information on alternative sweetener. Seeing it on video makes a huge difference. Thank you.
  • Bammajac
    Thanx Russell, have been going around this area with different schools of thought on raw food sweeteners for awhile, as in raw or not, love the medjool :), use them as sweeteners but this way didn't twig so thanx again for a simple solution.
  • Koelsumm
    i love the idea of the date sweetner. I struggle with my weight and love tea and coffee. Every one is telling me not to use sugar so i will try the dates
  • Blended05
    Couldn't be any easier! This is a great sweetener. Thank you,
  • Huriyetaser
    Thank you for showing how to open a cocnut. I t is going to help me a lot. You are very generous. I like your style.
  • Drgndream10
    Could you use this as a replacement for prune puree?
  • lori
    this is a great agave alternative, thanks! :) I am hypoglycemic though so i use stevia and was wondering if I can halve or quarter the recipe to try it out and see if my blood sugar is affected too much. I do enjoy my medjool dates but do not eat them too often. YUM!
  • Karen
    Your better bet is to use Yacon.. Dates are very high GI
  • Lisa Pupo
    Amazing and Thank You!
  • Amy
    Thanks for the video Russell, I've been making a thicker date paste so this will make my life ALOT easier! Have you tried using other fruits or dried fruits at all? I'm wondering if this would work w/ apricots, maybe I'll give it a try.

  • Estelle
    Thanks for your great recipes!! Just love your creativity with raw food!
  • fatimah
    hi russell,this vary good to know becuase some times you cant get it and it is some how expensive,thank you vary much .here in saudi we gave this recipe for babyes who 5 monthes and older but we make as pudding by adding cornstarch to it,as you dates vary rich in vitamines. thank you again.
  • Luisa Fajardo
    Hi Rusell,
    I loved it. You are great!
    Luisa
  • Good job Russell! Nice substitution. BTW, my baby daughter likes your voice :-)
  • Kevin
    That was really cool about the date sweetiner well done.
  • awesome!
  • Catherine Bacher
    Great video Russell - thanks - have been looking for a natural alternative to the expensive processed ones - who would have thought it could be that easy! Great tip, and nice to see how it actually is done.
  • Wendy
    Thank you for this. I've been adding dates in place of all sweetners in my recipes already and it's nice to have this recipe w/ some water. Thanks!
  • Terrie
    Russell James, you sooooo rawk! Thanks for the video. BTW, hope you're having a great time in OKC, Oklahoma : )
  • sara'i
    I have used dates when I first got into doing raw. My blood sugar rise and I had to back away from it. I tried agave and my blood sugar did not rise at all, but I thank you for showing me the alternative. we are all here to learn.
  • sara'i
    Is it good for diabetics? Agave do not allow the blood sugar to rise.
  • I'm not a nutritionist and don't know enough about diabetes to advise on that but I did find these articles that you may find useful :)

    http://tinyurl.com/365skec

    http://tinyurl.com/2waw97s

  • I'm not a nutritionist either, but I've been making something similar with yacon slices: http://rawdorable.blogspot.com/2010/05/yes-you-can-with-yacon.html
  • Angela
    Thank You for that tip! On the topic of agave nectar, and as a nutritionist,I have found only one company that has truely raw agave, without fillers, so without adverse effects. It can be ordered through Global Goods online.
  • Thanks, Angela.

    These guys have truly raw agave with no chemicals and lower levels of fructose:

    http://www.ultimatesuperfoods.com/
  • dominic
  • Terrie
    I only found clothes and dolls on the 1st 2 pages of the search for globalgoods.
  • Tressey
    Great tip, thanks.
  • Mia
    Russell,

    I LOVE it! Thank you for everything you do.
  • Lois
    Great alternative! I like that you mentioned the 1 1/2 to 1 ratio to agave. I also like that you told us how long it will last in the fridge for.
    Thanks Lois
  • Leanne
    Hi Russell, awesome idea, thanks for sharing, love you work, ideas recipes & passion.
  • Naomi
    Great little video, Russell, and THANKS! (btw, I am LOVING your videos in the Raw Chef DVD/workbook series I just purchased. You make things so EASY to do, and they are really fun to watch and learn from. I'm delighted!! :-) Naomi in NY
  • Raw diva 51
    GREAT IDEA!!
  • Margaret
    A great idea, thank you Russell. I bought a date syrup from Holland & Barratt recently
    but didn't like it as it was too strong tasting. Yours has the right colour and i can't wait to try it!
  • Great! Shop-bought date syrup is most definitely processed and not raw, so this would be a big improvement :-)
  • Awesome!
  • Kim
    Any thoughts about xylitol? Some raw chefs are promoting it as a better sweetener option.
  • Terrie
    Also, it's good to remember that xylitol can be harmful to our pets...just in case you ever give them your food : )
  • Interesting! I didn't know that, but whenever I'd offer leftovers with xylitol in it, my dog would not lick it or eat it...whatever. He must instinctively know it's not good for him. Makes me wonder about that for we 2 legged beasties?
  • Terrie
    Stacey, glad your dog doesn't go for it. Some dogs are not picky and will eat anything. Like some of us human critters : )

    It's good for me to remember that just because certain things are made to ingestible, does not mean I necessarily need to ingest them : )
  • I've just started experimenting with Xylitol. I used in the other day and had a chemical taste in my mouth for about 30 mins.

    I just seems weird using a white powder too, I can't get my head around it.
  • authentic birch xylitol is tasty, healthful. check it out at globalsweet.com
    what you tasted was undoubtedly the gmo corn junk from china!
  • Hi Lenore, it was actually the birch one I tried, but I'm going to give it another go :)
  • veronica o'reilly
    Hi Russell,
    ITs brilliant!. i am delighted to find something instead of agave.
    Regards
    Veronica
    Ireland
  • Oracle
    Whenever possible I just substitute Stevia. That's a no brainer for me to avoid any kind of sugars.
    Great video, though a slight mention that different types of dates have different flavors because you and all the books I see mention medjool dates, but they are not always easy to find.
  • Good point about the different dates.

    I just can't stand that stevia after taste :)
  • Maritza
    I used to feel the same way about stevia until I figured out that I had to use LESS than what I was using. I backed off a little and found just the right amount of sweetness with no aftertaste. Also quality is essential... very easy to grow. LOVE the date recipe. Thanks for that!
  • Thanks, Maritza. I know what you mean about getting just the right amount of Stevia.
  • dried or fresh stevia leaves are sweet with no aftertaste. it's easy to grow in the garden.
  • Thanks, Lenore. I didn't know that. Stevia is illegal to sell in the UK which is why I haven't really been exposed to it until coming to the US.
  • Lively
    awesome idea! thanks so much for posting an idea/ solution instead of just joining the banter. so many people have opinions on this but this is the first time i've seen someone give a good alternative. you never cease to impress!
  • Thanks :) I've got nothing to say about agave that hasn't already been said so I'll wait and see what comes back from sources already investigating these agave claims.
  • Thanks for the video! I love dates :)
  • sharon
    Thanks for noting the length of time that the date syrup lasts. I made it once and figured I could keep it indefinitely like agave. I don't know how long I had it, but it molded and turned me off to ever making it again. Now (thanks to you) I know I need to date it (no pun intended) and use it up in a couple of weeks. I'm inspired to make it again.
  • Love the video. We love using dates as our main sweetener.
  • Great video as per usual Russell. Now I'm not at 105 chef school I can get my fix through here :)
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