Our premium yacón powder is made from organic yacón roots grown in the Peruvian Andes where they naturally occur at 1,000-3,200m elevation. These rich and sweet plants have been part of a centuries' long tradition in the region. The yacón roots grow on the untouched slopes surrounded by indigenous flora and fauna, and far removed from large cities.
The unique climate as well as the characteristics of the soil facilitate the growth of the yacón as well as the development of their rich nutrients. Because the steep and rocky slopes are difficult to traverse, the harvest takes place entirely by hand. Moreover, due to the fragility of the roots, our producers additionally reject the use of harvest machinery. The harvested roots are completely pure with no added sweeteners or preservatives, and taste wonderfully sweet on their own.
To produce the powder, the yacón roots are first sorted, cleaned and dried. Thereafter they are milled to a fine beige or dark yellow powder. No heat treatment is used during the whole process, which is how our yacón powder retains its raw quality.
When compared to household sugar, yacón powder is less sweet because of the fructooligosaccharides it contains. Because yacón also has a higher water content that coconut sugar, it is comparably less nutritious. However, due to the fructooligosaccharides and inulin of the yacón, this powder has a similar effect to soluble fibre. The fructooligosaccharides cannot be absorbed in the intestines like sugar and therefore yacón has a comparably low glycemic index.