• Is xylitol a natural or artificial sweetener? ​
  Also known as birch sugar, xylitol is found naturally in a variety of fruits and vegetables. Because these sources contain too little xylitol for extraction, store-bought xylitol is not derived directly from them. Instead, for large-scale production, it's synthetically made from corn or birch wood. 
  
  The Food and Drug Administration classifies xylitol as natural because it exists in nature AND is derived from natural materials. While the FDA acknowledges that some natural ingredients can be "manufactured artificially", here at WhatSugar, we refer to xylitol as a synthetic sweetener for clarity. You can read more about this HERE and HERE.
  
  Synthetic is not the same as artificial, which refers to sweeteners "not found in nature" [We have an artificial sweetener buying guide]. Xylitol made from corn is not considered artificial as it’s indistinguishable from the xylitol found in fruits. 

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• How is xylitol made?
  Xylitol is derived from hemicellulose, the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature, found in the cell walls of all plants. The two most common sources of hemicellulose used for xylitol production are birch wood and corn. 
  
  The process begins with xylan, a polymer found in hemicellulose, which is broken down into a sugar called xylose. Through hydrogenation, xylose is then converted into xylitol.
  
  This method, which begins with the bark of birch trees or corn cobs, is complex and costly compared to other sweeteners. It requires high pressure, high temperature, and large amounts of water. Most products in stores are made in China from corn and tend to be less expensive than birch-derived xylitol produced in the U.S.
   

• Is corn or birch xylitol better?
  Wondering which xylitol is best—birch wood or corn? The truth is, there’s no difference in taste, smell, or chemical structure. Both types are chemically identical, with a purity of about 99.5% xylitol. The only noticeable variation comes from crystal size, as some brands produce slightly finer or coarser granules. Ultimately, the choice comes down to sourcing preferences.
   

• What is BochaSweet?
  I get a lot of questions about BochaSweet, a product marketed as kabocha extract, which raises concerns about false advertising. It's claimed to be a "pentose" derived from kabocha squash, a small variety of pumpkin. However, BochaSweet’s makes misleading claims that confuse consumers. Here are some key concerns:
  
  Is “kabocha extract” truly unique? 
  Despite being marketed as a distinct ingredient, lab analysis confirms that BochaSweet is simply xylitol—99.38% by weight. A more transparent description would be “xylitol from kabocha squash” rather than implying it is a unique sweetener. Interestingly, they recently changed their ingredient list to “kabocha extract (xylitol),” further confirming that their so-called “extract” is just xylitol.
  
  Is BochaSweet really zero-calories?
  BochaSweet’s front label claims it's “zero-calorie,” but if it is in fact pure xylitol, it provides 2.4 calories per gram. That means one serving (1 tsp or 4g) contains about 9.6 calories. By law, a sweetener with this calorie content cannot be labeled as zero-calorie, making this claim misleading. In addition, xylitol is NOT "zero net carbs," making yet another labeling claim inaccurate and misleading.
  
  How many calories are in a full cup of BochaSweet?
  The Nutrition Facts label lists 0 calories per teaspoon (4g), but in reality, xylitol contains 9.6 calories per teaspoon. This means one cup (48 tsp) has over 460 calories — far from being a zero-calorie sweetener.
  
  Is BochaSweet a pentose or a sugar alcohol?
  BochaSweet describes its product as a “pentose,” which, chemically speaking, is a sugar. However, xylitol is a polyol (sugar alcohol), not a sugar. This adds to the confusion about what the product truly is.
  
  BochaSweet’s marketing suggests it is something unique, but in reality, it’s simply xylitol—despite efforts to brand it differently.​