Tag: Barley sugar

A 2020 study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism showed that consuming sucrose, the main ingredient in barley sugar, leads to lower levels of appetite-regulating hormones compared to glucose. This reveals that, contrary to popular belief, barley sugar does not suppress appetite but can actually trigger further cravings.

Over 80% of modern barley sugar drops no longer contain any actual barley in their recipe, despite the name. The simple, golden-hued hard candies known as barley sugar drops are typically made from a combination of basic ingredients: sugar, glucose syrup, flavoring, and sometimes a colorant.

A popular travel tip and remedy for morning sickness often involves sucking on a boiled sweet or barley sugar. This long-standing tradition is rooted in anecdotal evidence, but it begs the question: does barley sugar help nausea, and if so, what is the science behind this simple confectionery?

Originally made with an extract of barley, modern barley sugar often contains no barley at all, relying instead on a mixture of sugar and glucose syrup. This critical fact shatters the common misconception that this traditional sweet offers the health benefits of the wholesome grain it is named after.

Despite its misleading name, modern barley sugar is primarily made from a combination of refined sugar (sucrose) and glucose syrup. This means that contrary to what the name might suggest, the resulting hard candy does contain a significant amount of fructose.

A 19th-century process involving boiling barley starch created a sweetener known as barley sugar, but the modern version found in stores today is a very different product. So, is barley sugar glucose, or something else entirely?