SUCHERO, A Truly Pinoy All Natural Sweetener

Sweet Like Sugar Minus Its Harmful Effects

• No additives
• No artificial flavors
• No preservatives
• No coloring
• No chemicals
• Unfiltered
• Unbleached

Diabetics, dieters and other individuals trying to control their sugar intake have never had it this good. The vote of confidence for a new sweetener out in the market made from the cocosap of organic coconut trees is shared by doctors, bakers, chefs as well as food exporters, according to Jose Villa, director of Suchero, the all-natural brand positioned as a healthy alternative to sugar.


Bound by a common belief that they found a product that will be a healthy innovation and commercially viable at the same time, not only in the local but also in the international markets, the three frontliners of The Chumer Group---Antonio Magcase, a professor; Vida Pamatian, a mother-cum-businesswoman and Jose "Joey" Villa, an engineer---restarted a more thorough study of the sweetener produced from the sweet toddy collected from the coconut sap (the unopened inflorescence) of the Philippine's tree of life, the coconut tree. 

Through the traditional process of evaporation, the sap when cooked on slow fire in the company's modern facilities, was converted into SUCHERO granules, a healthy, all-natural sweetener, and  100% organic. The cocosap produce a caramel-tasting sweetener which does not have the bitter after-taste of many of the sugar substitutes available today. Better yet, the cocosap, which is Suchero’s lone ingredient, becomes a low glycemic sweetener, according to Villa. 

SUGAR RUSH AND HIGH ENERGY IN A SACHET 

The glycemic index or GI measures the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. The real problem is carbohydrates, and that's what the glycemic index is all about. Foods high in fat or protein don’t cause your blood sugar level to rise much. Carbohydrates, like refined white sugar, that break down easily during digestion and rapidly release glucose in the bloodstream have a high GI. In turn, high GI foods signal the body to produce high levels of insulin which tax the pancreas. When consumed over the long run, high GI foods may lead to diabetes.

So a low GI food will cause a small rise, while a high GI food will trigger a dramatic spike. A GI of 70 or more is high, a GI of 56 to 69 inclusive is medium, and a GI of 55 or less is low.
In contrast, low glycemic sweeteners like Suchero are broken down more slowly which means gradual, and not sudden, releases of glucose into the blood stream. While cane sugar has a glycemic index of 60, Suchero’s GI is only a healthy 35, says Villa, who cites a comparative study done by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology.

“We have invested in a purpose-built facility with modern equipment that allows us to impose strict quality control,” he explains. To make a mark in the export market, nevertheless, a certification of product safety from SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, is necessary. Suchero secured its SGS certificate this year and the necessary approvals from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration last year.   

AVAILABILITY

An engineer by profession, who came back to the Philippines after several years working in New Zealand, Villa and his two other partners are aiming to export Suchero and position it as a more affordable, all-natural sugar substitute. He notes that in places like North America and Australia and New Zealand, there is high demand for natural sweeteners. Those being sold in New Zealand supermarkets are going from NZ$24 to NZ$32 a box. “We will offer Suchero for only NZ$18.”

Villa emphasizes that doctors in a number of major Manila hospitals have made Suchero available to their diabetic patients, because of its consistent high quality standards that ensure low glycemic levels. Aside from being available in their doctors' clinics,Suchero is also available in leading supermarkets in the metropolis, including especially in Landmark and Robinsons Supermarkets. 

Suchero is available in individual 5-grams sachets that are resealable and packaged by 12s (mini), 15s (tipid), 55s (big) and in the food service pack of 250s, and in 350-gram and 1-kilo pouches which are more convenient for cooking and baking. Among Suchero’s newest products is its premium variant, which is close in color to white cane sugar. This was developed especially to sweeten juice drinks and for baking pastries traditionally made with white sugar.    

SWEET CONCOCTIONS MADE HEALTHY

Meanwhile, Suchero’s owners demonstrated the authenticity of their brand’s claims at the recent launch held at Chateau 1771Greenbelt 5, by serving various desserts made by a popular supplier of no-sugar added pastries, LowCal Café Co. 

LowCal Café partner Lindy Santiago served French Apple Torte with Crème Anglais and Pistachio Sans Rival without burdening the sugar levels of guests – thanks to Suchero. Santiago observes that as a sugar substitute, Suchero delivers the right amount of sweetness appreciated by her sugar-conscious clients without altering her treasured recipes.


Santiago, who with cousin Tanya Pico first started making desserts with sugar substitutes for health reasons, is typical of the Suchero user. She started baking with sugar substitutes as a reaction to a dreaded disease that many suspect is aggravated by high sugar levels and which runs in her family line. Eventually she and her partner realized that the demand for no-sugar-added desserts was pretty strong. “People these days really don’t like to take in too much sugar because they want to keep healthy,” she observes. 

All of us who attended the launching were so impressed with the desserts, they're sweet... in fact no one can tell the difference if the concoctions we're eating have been mixed with real sugar or Suchero! There was a unanimous clamor for Ms. Lindy's contact numbers for future orders of these Suchero laced confections.


Here's additional info re : 
Desserts! Sugar-Free is owned by The LowCal Cafe Co.  They supply home-baked, delicious, low-calorie desserts without sugar added.  Our desserts are favored by diabetics and the health-conscious dessert-lovers who are watching their sugar intake.
Desserts! Sugar-Free is located in Paranaque City.  For orders, please call Lindy Santiago (917) 320 5463 and Tanya Pico at (918) 901 7500.  Please allow two days to fulfill orders.
Orders are also entertained through e-mail: dessertsugarfree@yahoo.com
Desserts! Sugar-Free is also available at Le Delice Café - Merville Paranaque City, Good To Go - Net 1 Bldg. Global City, and The Corner Tree Cafe - Jupiter St. Makati City.

FYI, here is the growing list of establishments who are already Suchero users so why don't you check them out.

Chateau 1771
Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City

Sentro
Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City

Portico 1771
Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Sweet Tomato Grill
St. Luke’s Medical Center, E. Rodriguez Ave., Quezon City

Sophia’s Mediterranean Deli
Westgate Center, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City 



Here is the recipe of the refreshing drinks we had during the Suchero launching at Chateau 1771, and yes they used Suchero.

Apple Cinnamon Herbal Tea Infusion

Ingredients:

4 (600g) golden delicious apples, roughly chopped

1 cinnamon stick

4-6 Suchero sachets

1 liter water

ice cubes to serve

Procedure:

Place the apple, cinnamon stick, Suchero and water in a pan.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 - 15 minutes or until the flavors have infused and the apples have softened.

Remove from the heat, cool slightly, then chill in the refrigerator until the cold.

When cold, strain and serve over lots of ice. Makes 2 x 300ml glasses.

When we left, Bheng handed each one of us a plastic bag containing a box of Suchero and a mini French apple torte with Creme Anglais for take out! 

Thank you EPMARFORI. Thank you, Ms. Berry. Thank you, Bheng. See you soon!