How are sugar-free candies sweet? The science behind artificial and natural sweeteners

December 30, 2025 •

2 min read

According to a 2023 review, 70% of sugar-free products on the market use sugar alcohols like xylitol or maltitol. These products achieve their sweet flavor through various sugar substitutes, each with unique properties and effects on the body, which is how are sugar-free candies sweet while containing no or minimal real sugar.

Quick Summary

Sugar-free candies get their sweetness from three main types of substitutes: artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, and natural novel sweeteners. These ingredients interact with our taste receptors to mimic sugar without the caloric or glycemic impact. Each substitute has different properties, from intense sweetness to added bulk and texture.

Key Points

Diverse Sweetening Agents: Sugar-free candy uses artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols (polyols), and natural novel sweeteners like Stevia and Monk Fruit to achieve its sweetness.
Taste Receptor Activation: These sugar substitutes bind to and activate the sweet taste receptors on the tongue, creating the perception of sweetness without using table sugar.
Artificial vs. Sugar Alcohols: Artificial sweeteners are intensely sweet and calorie-free, while sugar alcohols provide bulk and texture with fewer calories and a lower glycemic impact.
Functional Role of Sweeteners: Manufacturers combine different sweeteners and use fillers to replicate the mouthfeel, texture, and volume that sugar provides in traditional candy.
Potential Digestive Effects: Overconsumption of sugar alcohols can cause gastrointestinal issues like bloating and diarrhea due to their poor absorption in the small intestine.
Beyond 'Sugar-Free': The term 'sugar-free' does not guarantee a product is calorie-free or carb-free, so checking the nutritional information for fats and total carbohydrates is essential.
Dental Health Benefits: Sugar alcohols resist fermentation by oral bacteria, which helps protect against tooth decay and reduces acid production in the mouth.

The Science of Sweetness Without Sugar

Sweetness is perceived when compounds activate specific receptors on our tongue, primarily T1R2 and T1R3. Sugar-free candies utilize various sugar substitutes that can bind to these receptors, sometimes providing a more intense sweetness than traditional sugar. These substitutes broadly fall into artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, and natural plant-derived options. Crafting sugar-free candy involves replacing sugar's sweetness and its functional roles in texture, volume, and moisture.

Types of Sugar Substitutes

Sugar-free candies primarily use artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols (polyols), and natural novel sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners offer intense flavor without calories. Sugar alcohols add bulk and have fewer calories and a lower glycemic impact than sugar. Natural novel sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit are derived from plants and provide sweetness with minimal or no calories.

Synergistic Blending of Sweeteners

Manufacturers often combine different sweeteners to achieve desired taste and texture. This blending can balance flavors and improve sweetness perception. Other ingredients are also used to mimic sugar's role in texture and structure.

Comparison of Common Sugar-Free Sweeteners


Sweetener Type	Examples	Sweetness vs. Sugar	Calories	Key Functions	Potential Downsides
Artificial Sweeteners	Aspartame, Sucralose	200-700x sweeter	Negligible	Intense sweetness without calories.	Potential aftertaste; some are not heat-stable.
Sugar Alcohols	Maltitol, Erythritol, Xylitol	Varies (e.g., Erythritol is 70%)	Lower than sugar	Provides bulk, texture, and milder sweetness.	Can cause digestive issues in large quantities.
Natural Novel Sweeteners	Stevia, Monk Fruit, Allulose	Varies (e.g., Stevia is 200-400x)	Minimal to none	Plant-derived; no blood sugar impact.	Some have a distinct aftertaste (e.g., Stevia).

Understanding Labels and Health Considerations

Sugar-free candies can offer benefits like improved dental health and a lower glycemic impact. However, checking the nutrition label is vital because sugar-free does not automatically mean calorie-free. Sugar alcohols contribute calories, and ingredients like fats can add more. The long-term health implications of non-nutritive sweeteners and their role in weight management are still subjects of ongoing research; therefore, moderation is advisable.

Conclusion: A Sweet Science

Sugar-free candies achieve their sweetness through various sugar substitutes, including artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, and natural novel sweeteners, which activate taste receptors without the typical caloric or blood sugar effects of sugar. Consumers should be aware of the different types of sweeteners, potential side effects (especially from sugar alcohols like digestive issues), and the importance of moderation. Reading the full nutrition label is key to making informed choices. As food science advances, the availability of diverse and appealing sugar-free options continues to expand. More information about sugar-free candy can be found on {Link: candymixmatch.com https://candymixmatch.com/en-lu/blogs/candy-and-more/the-concept-sugar-free-candy-this-is-what-you-need-to-know}. Learn more about food additives and sweeteners from {Link: FDA https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/high-intensity-sweeteners}.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main types of sweeteners are artificial sweeteners (e.g., sucralose, aspartame), sugar alcohols (e.g., maltitol, erythritol), and natural novel sweeteners (e.g., Stevia, Monk Fruit).

No, not always. While many artificial sweeteners are calorie-free, sugar alcohols contain some carbohydrates and calories. Additionally, other ingredients like fats can add calories.

Sugar-free candies often contain sugar alcohols, which are not fully absorbed by the body. They ferment in the large intestine, which can lead to bloating, gas, and diarrhea, especially when consumed in large quantities.

You can find the specific sweeteners used by reading the ingredient list on the product's nutritional label. Look for ingredients ending in "-ol" for sugar alcohols.

Sugar-free candies can be a suitable option for people with diabetes as they generally have a lower impact on blood sugar levels compared to traditional sugar. However, it is crucial to read labels carefully and moderate consumption.

Yes, sugar-free candies can be better for dental health. Oral bacteria cannot easily metabolize the sugar alcohols they contain, which reduces the production of decay-causing acids.

Artificial sweeteners are much sweeter than sugar and are calorie-free, while sugar alcohols are less sweet, contain some calories, and provide bulk and texture to the candy.