What makes a can of Diet Rite, which is sweetened with Splenda and only contains 1 carb, taste so much sweeter than 6 oz of Kool-Aid sweetened with 1 packet of Splenda?
They both contain only 1 carb, but you can barely taste the sweetener in the Kool-Aid, whereas, the Diet Rite tastes like it's sweetened with 20 packs of Splenda. Could it be the carbonation?

Actually I think it's because they use LIQUID Splenda in the Diet Rite, which hasn't any carbs. It's the carrier they add to Splenda so it can be put into packets and boxes that give it the carb count!

Char

Don't squat with yer spurs on!

Thanks for the reply, that makes sense.
So should I still be counting Diet Rite as 1 carb? And where can you purchase liquid Splenda at?

i believe liquid splenda is only used in ready made products, usually liquid things like sodas, coffee syrups, ready-to-drink crystal light. its not publicly available.

i never bother counting diet rite carbs, but if you drink it regularly you probably should. those carbs can add up fast if you take them in every day.

There is one company that sells the "base" which is Splenda - I forget the name of it though, I'm sure someone else will have it!

You can also buy Splenda in a liquid, albeit flavored, form from www.davincigourmet.com - I have about 35 of their different sugarfree flavors and use 'em in EVERYTHING these days!

Char

Don't squat with yer spurs on!

I find Diet Rite to be too sweet, too. So I cut it 50/50 with club soda. I find the blend to be quite refreshing.

~~~Teelbee

174 (Mar. 2002, highest weight), 164 (Jan. 2003, begin LC)
164/135/137-134
remember, amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic

The liquid is called stevia I think. We have the stevia powder here and I have to say it doesn't taste as good as splenda. I'm not sure about the liquid? Anyone tried it?

202/183/140
I can feel it melting away!

Stevia is a whole different product than Splenda, though it is available in a liquid form.

Splenda (sucralose) is basically sugar that has been altered at the molecular level (I think it they either add or subtract a chlorine molecule), to make it sweeter. As it is sweeter, you need much less of it to get the desired effect.

Splenda comes in 3 forms:

liquid (only available to manufacturers)
dry in packets (powder)
dry in boxes (granular)

The dry splenda is mixed with a filler, maltodextrin, which adds carbs. The splenda in packets has less of the filler than the splenda in boxes. Thus, granualr splenda in the box has higher carbs than powder splenda in the packets. That's because they wanted the splenda in the box to measure the same as sugar, cup for cup.

The caloric and carbohydrate content for Splenda is as follows:

Splenda Granular
1 tsp = 0.5 gm carb = 2 calories
1 cup = 24 gm carb = 96 calories

Packet of Splenda
1 packet = .9 gm of carb = 4 calories
*1 packet has the sweetness of 2 tsp of sugar

Though consumers cannot buy liquid splenda, many of us use Da Vinci flavored syrups made from liquid Splenda as a form of carb-free liquid splenda.

Stevia, on the other hand, is made from a South American plant substance which is far sweeter than sugar. It comes in dry form (also mixed with maltodextrin, which adds carbs). Or, you can buy it in liquid form, with no carbs. It has a different flavor than sugar, with some aftertaste (to me). I find it very tricky to use stevia, because using even the slightest bit too much makes your dish very bitter tasting.

~~~Teelbee

174 (Mar. 2002, highest weight), 164 (Jan. 2003, begin LC)
164/135/137-134
remember, amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic

Thank you so much Teelbee for the good info on Splenda! I knew there had to be a difference.

Could Splenda raise my blood sugar? I had a Mock Danish this morning for the first time and felt my blood sugar go up. Then I was hungry less than an hour later. Splenda is the only thing I can think of in the ingred. that would have triggered that. Usually I eat a couple of eggs and sausage for breakfust and I'm full until I "have" to eat at lunch.

Sonya
172/134/125

Go Longhorns!