LAKANTO'S
MONK FRUIT
PROCESS
LAKANTO'S
MONK FRUIT
A TRADITION OF
SUSTAINABILITY & QUALITY
PROCESS
WHAT IS MONK FRUIT?
Luo Han Guo
OVER 1000 YEARS AGO IN THE REMOTE HIGHLANDS OF CHINA, A SACRED FRUIT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WAS PRIZED FOR ITS SWEETNESS. IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE SECRET TO LONGEVITY AND EARNED THE NAME “THE IMMORTALS’ FRUIT.”
Monk fruit is a small round fruit in the gourd family, also known as Luo Han Guo, named after the Luo Han monks who discovered it. The monks were healers of people and stewards of the land. We carry on that tradition today by helping people get off sugar addictions and growing and processing monk fruit in a way that is sustainable, including having a zero-emissions processing plant.
THE
IMMORTALS' FRUIT
Unlike other fruits, monk fruit’s sweetness comes from antioxidants* called mogrosides.
FREE RADICAL FIGHTING PROPERTIES
0
GLYCEMIC
NO NUTRITIONAL BENEFIT
100
GLYCEMIC
VS.
GLYCEMIC INDEX OF POPULAR FRUITS*
DIABETIC FRIENDLY
Monk fruit extract is rated a zero on the glycemic index and has zero calories and zero carbs so it won’t spike blood sugar diabetics can incorporate it into their diet more easily than sugar.
ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
The mogrosides, specifically mogroside V, that is found in monk fruit, have been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
HOW IS MONK FRUIT GROWN?
MONK FRUIT GROWS IN VERY SELECT ELEVATIONS AND CONDITIONS; IT REQUIRES HIGH RAINFALL, HIGH HUMIDITY AND A HIGH-TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DAY AND NIGHT.
We ensure the monk fruit for our products is grown on pristine farms in the remote mountains of Guilin, China, hours away from the city pollution.
The elevation of the fields and steepness of the slopes allows for optimal growth, protection from flood damage, and access to unpolluted water. The fields are generally a 20-45 minute hike from the farm villages.
Each fruit is pollinated, grown and harvested by hand, without pesticides, using the same traditional methods they have been using for centuries. Farmers use natural pest control, including bottle traps and netting, instead of pesticides. We support the local economy without interference, allowing family villages to exist as they have for centuries—some as long as 400 years.
- No pesticides
- Farming is done the same way it has been for centuries
- Monk fruit is grown away from city pollution
- The fruit is planted, pollinated, and picked by hand
OUR MONK FRUIT IS GROWN PESTICIDE-FREE.
The farmers use natural pest control, including bottle traps which use honey and a small amount of sanitizer to trap bugs without pesticides.
AT LAKANTO, WE ONLY WORK WITH THE BEST FARMERS THAT FOLLOW THESE HIGH STANDARDS FOR THE BEST-TASTING, HIGHEST-QUALITY MONK FRUIT.
To keep up with demand and ensure quality we provide greenhouse-grown seedlings to the farmers. By giving the monk fruit a strong start, we reduce the amount of crop loss. The nursery that grows the seedlings was started by the original botanists we worked with from the beginning as we developed the monk fruit extract years ago.
Our process is highly efficient. The average farm is only 4 acres large but will yield around 200,000 fruits per harvest.
FIELD CYCLING FOR OPTIMAL GROWTH
1-3 YEARS
MONK FRUIT
ONLY
3-5 YEARS
MONK FRUIT &
SAPLINGS PLANTED
5+ REFORESTED
FULL GROWN FOREST
TO RESTORE HABITAT
For a sustainable tradition of field cycling, the farmers rotate crops every five years. This has been proven to be the amount of time the soil yields the best fruit. After three years, trees are planted and grow alongside the monk fruit for the remaining two years. Then, the netting and poles for the monk fruit are removed and the trees continue to grow in to reforest the area.
The monk fruit for Lakanto products is grown on pristine farms in the remote mountains of Guilin, China, hours away from the city, in an area with clean air and unpolluted water.
Some monk fruit farms may be in polluted areas, but at Lakanto, we only contract with farmers that follow these high standards for the highest-quality and best-tasting monk fruit.
HOW IS MONK FRUIT
EXTRACT MADE?
CREATORS OF THE EXTRACTION PROCESS
We were first to use the modern mogroside extraction process which was created by Dr. Murata. Our monk fruit extract process is held to the highest, Japanese standards, in our zero emissions processing plant.
Wanting to improve the economy in the area, Lakanto’s Founder, Shota Sayara, decided to share his research and discoveries about monk fruit openly so that the economy of Guilin and the surrounding areas would benefit and monk fruit could be accessed globally.
OUR PROCESS MAINTAINS THE FRESHNESS OF THE FRUIT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE TO GET THE BEST FLAVOR AND SWEETNESS. THERE IS NO ROASTING OR PRE-PROCESSING. THE FACTORY IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE FIELD TO MAINTAIN THE FRESHNESS OF THE FRUITS BEFORE THEY ARE PROCESSED.
The entire fresh fruit is washed, crushed and slowly steeped in hot water. The sweet juice is filtered to remove fructose, sucrose and flavor-altering proteins, leaving mogroside in varying concentrations. The solution is condensed and dehydrated, leaving high purity monk fruit extract.
Saraya Co. Ltd, Lakanto's parent company, takes some of the residual pulp and makes it into a natural hand scrub. The rest is composted and redistributed to local farms.
We are always working to further reduce our waste.
ZERO EMISSIONS FACTORY
Our extract is processed in a zero-emissions factory.
QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR PREMIUM MONK FRUIT
The monk fruit is checked three times to weed out any rotten fruit. First on the fields during harvest, again when the fruit arrives at the processing plant, and a third time when the staff goes through all the fruits, before washing and extraction.
When the fruits first get to the plant they are visually checked for mold, size, and ripeness. A sample is sent to an external lab and checked for over 400 chemicals.
The factory has a full lab to research monk fruit extraction methods and ensure safe and delicious products.
WHY IS MONK FRUIT EXTRACT SO SWEET?
When making the extract we pull out the mogroside, which is the sweetest part of the fruit. We produce two levels of mogroside concentration: 30% and 50%. Given the mogroside to pulp ratio, each will have a different taste but the same nutritional value. Our 30% is 150x sweeter than sugar and 50% is 300x sweeter than sugar.
END RESULT OF EXTRACTION PROCESS
30%
MOGROSIDE V
150X SWEETER
THAN SUGAR
50%
MOGROSIDE V
300X SWEETER
THAN SUGAR
SUGAR
MONKFRUIT EXTRACT
The 30% concentration becomes our Golden Monkfruit Sweetener which has a rich, maple taste. While the 50% mogroside is made our Classic Monkfruit Sweetener that is a perfect substitute for white sugar.
WHAT MAKES LAKANTO MONK FRUIT DIFFERENT?
We want what’s best for the health of humans and the world. Lakanto’s mission is to bring chi to life by inspiring people to reach their highest potential in health and wellness and by creating products that are innovative, delicious, natural, nutritious, and sugar-free.
This is why we refuse to compromise when it comes to creating the highest quality monk fruit extract that is best for you and for the environment.
The only thing left to do is taste for yourself!
WHAT IS ERYTHRITOL?
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol naturally found in grapes, pears, mushrooms, soy sauce, cheese, wine, and beer. It has been part of the human diet for thousands of years. Erythritol is different than, and much better than, other sugar alcohols because it is made from non-GMO corn which has been fermented.
In the body, most erythritol is absorbed into the bloodstream in the small intestine, and then for the most part excreted unchanged in the urine. About 10% enters the colon. Because 90% of erythritol is absorbed before it enters the large intestine, it does not normally cause laxative effects, as are often experienced after consumption of other sugar alcohols (such as xylitol and maltitol).
There are zero calories in erythritol because its molecular structure allows the body to absorb it but not break it down or in other words metabolize it.
WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF MONK FRUIT TO ERYTHRITOL IN LAKANTO SWEETENER?
While we will not be able to provide our exact percentage ratio, as this is a proprietary formulation, please consider the following information:
Erythritol has a sweetness strength of 60-70% of sugar.
Monk fruit is 250-300 times sweeter than sugar.
The monk fruit in Lakanto Classic and Golden sweeteners constitutes about 30-40% of the sweetness.
*FDA has not yet officially recognized mogroside as an antioxidant.
LAKANTO'S
MONK FRUIT
PROCESS
WHAT IS MONK FRUIT?
LUO HAN GUO
OVER 1000 YEARS AGO IN THE REMOTE HIGHLANDS OF CHINA, A SACRED FRUIT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WAS PRIZED FOR ITS SWEETNESS. IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE SECRET TO LONGEVITY AND EARNED THE NAME “THE IMMORTALS’ FRUIT.”
Monk fruit is a small round fruit in the gourd family, also known as Luo Han Guo, named after the Luo Han monks who discovered it. The monks were healers of people and stewards of the land. We carry on this tradition today by healing people from their sugar addictions and growing and processing monk fruit in a way that is sustainable, including having a zero-emissions processing plant
THE
IMMORTALS' FRUIT
Monk fruit is considered one of the highest levels of healing herbs in Eastern medicine and has been used since its discovery to treat all kinds of ailments. Because the people who farm it live so long it is also thought to be the secret to longevity. Monk fruit’s sweetness comes from antioxidants* called mogrosides.
VS.
FREE RADICAL FIGHTING PROPERTIES
0
GLYCEMIC
NO NUTRITIONAL
BENEFIT
100
GLYCEMIC
GLYCEMIC INDEX OF POPULAR FRUITS*
MONK FRUIT HEALTH BENEFITS
Monk fruit is a better way to sweeten your life. By using monk fruit instead of sugar you can help protect yourself from diseases and health problems that are linked to sugar.
Monk fruit extract is all-natural—so you avoid the drawbacks of artificial sweeteners. Monk fruit is one of the few low and no-calorie sweeteners that are permitted by the FDA for use in US food supply, it has been recognized as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe)
DIABETIC FRIENDLY
Monk fruit extract is rated a zero on the glycemic index and has zero calories and zero carbs so it won’t spike blood sugar diabetics can incorporate it into their diet more easily than sugar.
ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
The mogrosides, specifically mogroside V that is found in monk fruit, have been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
HOW IS MONK FRUIT GROWN
MONK FRUIT GROWS IN VERY SELECT ELEVATIONS AND CONDITIONS; IT REQUIRES HIGH RAINFALL, HIGH HUMIDITY AND A HIGH-TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DAY AND NIGHT.
We ensure the monk fruit for our products is grown on pristine farms in the remote mountains of Guilin, China, hours away from the city pollution.
The elevation of the fields and steepness of the slopes allows for optimal growth, protection from flood damage, and access to unpolluted water. The fields are generally a 20-45 minute hike from the farm villages.
Each fruit is pollinated, grown and harvested by hand, without pesticides, using the same traditional methods they have been using for centuries. Farmers use natural pest control, including bottle traps and netting, instead of pesticides. We support the local economy without interference, allowing family villages to exist as they have for centuries—some as long as 400 years.
- No pesticides
- Farming is done the same way it has been for centuries
- Monk fruit is grown away from city pollution
- The fruit is planted, pollinated, and picked by hand
OUR MONK FRUIT IS GROWN PESTICIDE-FREE.
The farmers use natural pest control, including bottle traps which use honey and a small amount of sanitizer to trap bugs without pesticides.
AT LAKANTO, WE ONLY WORK WITH THE BEST FARMERS THAT FOLLOW THESE HIGH STANDARDS FOR THE BEST-TASTING, HIGHEST-QUALITY MONK FRUIT.
To keep up with demand and ensure quality we provide greenhouse-grown seedlings to the farmers. By giving the monk fruit a strong start, we reduce the amount of crop loss. The nursery that grows the seedlings was started by the original botanists we worked with from the beginning as we developed the monk fruit extract years ago.
Our process is highly efficient. The average farm is only 4 acres large but will yield around 200,000 fruits per harvest.
FIELD CYCLING FOR OPTIMAL GROWTH
1-3 YEARS
MONK FRUIT ONLY
3-5 YEARS
MONK FRUIT & SAPLINGS PLANTED
5+ REFORESTED
FULL GROWN FOREST TO RESTORE HABITAT
For a sustainable tradition of field cycling, the farmers rotate crops every five years. This has been proven to be the amount of time the soil yields the best fruit. After three years, trees are planted and grow alongside the monk fruit for the remaining two years. Then, the netting and poles for the monk fruit are removed and the trees continue to grow in to reforest the area.
The monk fruit for Lakanto products is grown on pristine farms in the remote mountains of Guilin, China, hours away from the city, in an area with clean air and unpolluted water.
Some monk fruit farms may be in polluted areas, but at Lakanto, we only contract with farmers that follow these standards for the highest quality and best-tasting monk fruit.
HOW IS MONK FRUIT
EXTRACT MADE?
CREATORS OF THE EXTRACTION PROCESS
Our monk fruit extract process is held to the highest, Japanese standards, in our zero emissions processing plant. We were first to use the modern mogroside extraction process created by Dr. Murata.
Lakanto’s Founder, Shota Sayara, decided to share his research and discoveries about monk fruit openly so that the economy of Guilin and the surrounding areas would benefit and monk fruit could be accessed globally
OUR PROCESS MAINTAINS THE FRESHNESS OF THE FRUIT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE TO GET THE BEST FLAVOR AND SWEETNESS. THERE IS NO ROASTING OR PRE-PROCESSING. THE FACTORY IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE FIELD TO MAINTAIN THE FRESHNESS OF THE FRUITS BEFORE THEY ARE PROCESSED.
The entire fresh fruit is washed, crushed and slowly steeped in hot water. The sweet juice is filtered to remove fructose, sucrose and flavor-altering proteins, leaving mogroside in varying concentrations. The solution is condensed and dehydrated, leaving high purity monk fruit extract.
Saraya Co. Ltd, Lakanto's parent company, uses some of the leftover pulp and makes it into a natural hand scrub in one of our hand soaps. The rest is composted and redistributed to local farms.
We are constantly working to further reduce our waste.
ZERO EMISSIONS FACTORY
Our extract is processed in a zero-emissions factory.
QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR PREMIUM MONK FRUIT
The monk fruit is checked three times to weed out any rotten fruit. Once on the fields during harvest. Again when the fruit arrives at the processing plant. And a third time when the staff goes through all the fruits, before washing and extraction.
When the fruits first get to the plant they are visually checked for mold, size, and ripeness. A sample is sent to an external lab and checked for over 400 chemicals.
Once the extract process is complete, another sample is sent out and it is inspected again for pesticides by a 3rd party lab.
The factory has a full lab to research monk fruit extraction methods and ensure safe and delicious products.
WHY IS MONK FRUIT EXTRACT SO SWEET?
When making the extract we pull out the mogroside, which is the sweetest part of the fruit. We produce two levels of mogroside concentration: 30% and 50%. Given the mogroside to pulp ratio, each will have a different taste but the same nutritional value. Our 30% is 150x sweeter than sugar and 50% is 300x sweeter than sugar.
END RESULT OF EXTRACTION PROCESS
30%
MOGROSIDE V
150X SWEETER
THAN SUGAR
50%
MOGROSIDE V
300X SWEETER
THAN SUGAR
SUGAR
MONKFRUIT EXTRACT
The 30% concentration becomes our Golden Monkfruit Sweetener which has a rich, maple taste. While the 50% mogroside is made our Classic Monkfruit Sweetener that is a perfect substitute for white sugar. We also have a Pure Monkfruit Extract in a powdered form and a liquid extract drops.
WHAT MAKES LAKANTO MONK FRUIT DIFFERENT?
We want what’s best for the health of humans and the world. Lakanto’s mission is to bring chi to life by inspiring people to reach their highest potential in health and wellness and by creating products that are innovative, delicious, natural, nutritious, and sugar-free.
This is why we refuse to compromise when it comes to creating the highest quality monk fruit extract that is best for you and for the environment.
But now that we’ve told you everything about our monk fruit, the only thing left to do is taste for yourself.
*FDA has not yet officially recognized mogroside as an antioxidant.