Siraitia grosvenorii (
luo han guo or
monk fruit) is a herbaceous perennial vine of the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family, native to southern China and northern Thailand. The plant is cultivated for its fruit, whose extract is nearly 300 times sweeter than sugar and has been used in China as a low-calorie sweetener for cooling drinks and in traditional Chinese medicine.
High Sweetness
The sweet taste of the fruit comes mainly from mogrosides, a group of triterpene glycosides that make up about 1% of the flesh of the fresh fruit. It is 300 times sweeter than sucrose.
Non-Caloric
It is used as a natural zero calorie sweetener. Because it is about 300 times sweeter than sugar it needs to be mixed with a bulking agent if used as a table top sweetener
Clearing Throat
In traditional Chinese medicine, it is used for cough and sore throat and in southern China it is believed to be a longevity aid. The fruits are generally sold in dried form, and traditionally used in herbal tea or soup.
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