See an unfamiliar ingredient
Search the Be Food Smart database
Enter food additive or ingredient name
Select and eat smarter food
Alternate Names
Lo Han Guo, Lo Lan Guo, Lo Han Kuo, Sweet-Delicious, Luohanguo, Siraitia Grosvenorii, Lo Han Fruit
Description
A round green fruit that turns brown when dried. Native to China, the fruit is dried and processed to create a natural sweetener often referred to as Lo Han Guo (lohan meaning "monk" and guo translated as "fruit"). The drying process causes bitter and astringent off-flavors which limits the use of the dried fruit and dried fruit extracts. In 1995, Proctor & Gamble patented a process to eliminate the undesired flavors and market it as useful sweetener (processing involves using solvents to remove volatile and off-flavor components). There is now a company growing the fruit in New Zealand to make monk fruit sweetener more readily available. The processed lo han guo is 150-300 times sweeter than sugar and is low or no-calorie.
Lo Han Guo, Lo Lan Guo, Lo Han Kuo, Sweet-Delicious, Luohanguo, Siraitia Grosvenorii, Lo Han Fruit
Additional Information
Monk fruit is native to southern China where it has been used as a longevity aid and in Chinese medicine for hundreds of years.
Found In
beverages, fruit beverage, dairy products, cereals, nutrition bars, baked goods, cookies, sugar-free foods
Possible Health Effects
Negative health effects unknown. Also see Additional Information.
Allergy Information
Unknown
In The News
August 16, 2010 - Food Navigator: Monk fruit sweetener is ‘emerging’, say analysts
Online Resources/Related
Copyright February 19, 2012 Be Food Smart
Simply click one of the grades below to get a listing of all ingredients with that grade
