Tag: Walla walla

While all onions contain some level of natural sugars, specific cultivars like sweet onions are bred to have a much higher sugar content and a milder flavor due to lower sulfur levels. Understanding what onions are high in sugar is key to achieving that perfect caramelization or adding a sweet dimension to a raw dish.

Despite their name, sweet onions do not necessarily have more sugar than their pungent counterparts; in fact, some studies show they contain slightly less total sugar. The key to their milder, sweeter-tasting flavor is a lower concentration of sulfur compounds, which are responsible for the eye-watering pungency in regular onions.

While many assume sweet onions like Vidalia and Walla Walla top the list, some studies have found that certain types of red onions can have an unexpectedly high sugar content. The key to an onion's flavor profile—its sweetness versus its pungent bite—is less about sugar percentage alone and more about the balance between its natural sugars and sulfur compounds.