Barley malt: what it is and how to use the natural alternative sweetener to sugar

Barley malt, also called barley sugar, is an alternative natural sweetener to normal sugar and cane sugar, and to honey. It is obtained from the maceration of barley, and it is still little known and used, despite its many properties: it is in fact purifying, digestive, energizing, and it is low in calories. It is a sugary product that can be used to sweeten beverages and sweets and to facilitate the leavening process. Let's find out more about barley malt and how to use it, every day, to replace sugar.

What is barley malt and how it is obtained

Barley malt is a natural sweetener that is obtained from barley: the processing cycle is composed of several phases, and it takes place inside malt processing factories. Once germinated, the barley grains are dried and then macerated in special containers filled with water: in this way they will swell. Then they will be placed in germination chambers for about a week. Finally, the result will be dried and then cooked in water: all will then be reduced to powder or liquid form. In this way a dense sugary product will be obtained, but less sweet than normal sugar, and with a bitter but pleasant aftertaste.

Nutritional and beneficial properties of barley malt

Barley malt has a high content of maltose, a sugar similar to fructose, it is also rich in amino acids and mineral salts, especially potassium, magnesium and sodium, and it contains a lot of water: this makes it less sweet than traditional sugar. It is a nutritious food rich in beneficial properties: in addition to being an excellent substitute for sugar and honey, it is beneficial for the intestine, as it has a purifying action, it helps the work of the liver, favoring the elimination of toxins. It also contains digestive enzymes, therefore it favors digestion and general well-being of the stomach. Barley sugar is also a natural energizer: this is due to the presence of slow-release sugars which constantly act on energy and mood, which is why it is also used by athletes. Barley malt also contains maltol, considered an antitumor, and it is low in calories: it contains about 300 calories per 100 grams of product, while normal sugar contains about 392 calories per 100 gr, it is therefore indicated for those who follow a low-calorie diet.

How to use barley malt

Barley malt is a sweetener that can be used in beverages, but also for the preparation of biscuits, cakes or baked goods. It is also able to promote leavening: leavened foods feed on sugars. Barley malt is found in two forms: liquid, suitable for sweetening beverages, and in powder form, ideal for leavened products. If you choose to use it instead of normal or cane sugar, you must consider that barley malt is less sweet, so you need to use a higher dose: it is usually recommended to replace 100 grams of white sugar with 125 grams of sugar of malt. If instead deciding to use barley malt powder for leavened products, use 15 grams per kilo of flour: avoid exceeding the doses, so as not to ruin the balance of the dough.