My diet:

Agave syrup (Agave nectar)

No E-numberSweetenersOrigin: Plant
Get a personal answer

Pick your family’s diets in the bar above.

Every diet

VeganYes

Agave syrup comes from the agave plant.

Gluten-freeYes
HalalYes
KosherYes
KetoNo

Agave syrup is a concentrated sugar, mostly fructose.

Low-FODMAPNo

A fructose-heavy syrup is high-FODMAP.

The short answer
Agave syrup is a plant sweetener that is mostly fructose. It barely moves blood sugar, and it is still sugar: skip it on keto and in a low-FODMAP elimination.
Use in moderation

Safe in small amounts; may bother some people or raise blood sugar.

E-numberNone
Comes fromPlant
What it doesSweeteners
Glycemic index15
Daily limitNot set
Also calledAgave syrup, Agave nectar

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDANot evaluated as an additive
🇪🇺 European UnionNot evaluated as an additive
🇨🇦 Health CanadaNot evaluated as an additive
CaliforniaNo extra rules

Agave syrup is sold as a sweetener, not as an additive with an E-number, in the US, the EU and Canada. A low glycemic index does not make it a non-sugar. The syrup is a concentrated fructose, and fructose is the part of sugar that the liver handles.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

Agave syrup tastes sweeter than table sugar and has a neutral, slightly caramel flavor. Drink makers like it because it dissolves in a cold glass.

Where it comes from: Agave syrup is the sap of the agave plant, filtered and heated so the plant's inulin breaks into fructose. The finished syrup is mostly fructose, which is why it tastes very sweet and pours thinner than honey.

Why it’s in food

  • Sweetens cold drinks and cocktails
  • Replaces honey for a vegan recipe
  • Browns a granola
  • Stays liquid in the cupboard

Often found in

Iced tea and lemonadeVegan dessertsGranolaKetchup-style saucesYogurt toppingsEnergy bars

Also listed as: Agave syrup, Agave nectar, Agave nectar syrup, Blue agave syrup

Health & gut impact

Glycemic indexBenefit

Agave syrup is mostly fructose, so its glycemic index is low, around the teens, unlike table sugar.

Glycemic index tables for agave syrup

Fructose loadConcern

The same fructose that keeps the glycemic index low is a large dose for the liver when the syrup is used by the spoon. Fruit gives you much less fructose per bite.

Fructose metabolism reviews

What can I use instead?

Maple syrup

Ratio: Use a little more, because agave tastes sweeter

Best for: A vegan syrup with less fructose

Allulose

Ratio: Taste as you go

Best for: Sweetness without a fructose load

Related

More sweeteners:

Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) E950Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K, E950) is a zero-calorie sweetener approved in the US, EU and Canada. EFSA re-checked it in 2025 and raised its daily limit. It's usually paired with sucralose or aspartame to hide a slightly bitter aftertaste.Use in moderationAdvantame E969Advantame (E969) is an extremely intense sweetener related to aspartame. Regulators approve it, and the amount in a food is tiny next to the daily limit. It does not carry aspartame's phenylalanine warning at normal use.Generally safeAlluloseAllulose is a "rare sugar" that tastes like sugar but has almost no calories and doesn't raise blood sugar. It's keto-friendly and browns like real sugar in baking.Generally safeAspartame E951Aspartame (E951) is a zero-calorie sweetener in diet soda. It's approved, but WHO's cancer agency called it "possibly carcinogenic" in 2023, and people with PKU must avoid it.Use in moderation

Common questions

Is agave syrup better than sugar because the glycemic index is low?

Only for the blood-sugar number. The syrup is still a concentrated sugar, and most of that sugar is fructose.

Is agave syrup vegan?

Yes. It is sap from the agave plant.

Is Agave syrup safe?

Use in moderation (50/100). Agave syrup is sold as a sweetener, not as an additive with an E-number, in the US, the EU and Canada. A low glycemic index does not make it a non-sugar. The syrup is a concentrated fructose, and fructose is the part of sugar that the liver handles.

Is Agave syrup vegan?

Yes. Agave syrup comes from the agave plant.

Spotted a mistake on this page? Report it ›

Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • Glycemic index tables for agave syrup
  • Fructose metabolism reviews