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While agave (pronounced ah-GAH-vay) is best recognized as the plant from which tequila is made, it has also been used for thousands of years as an ingredient in food. The nectar made from the plant is known in Mexico as aguamiel, or “honey water.”
The Aztecs prized the agave as a gift from the gods and used the liquid from its core to flavor foods and drinks. Now, due to increasing awareness of agave nectar’s many beneficial properties, it is becoming the preferred sweetener of health conscious consumers, doctors, and natural foods cooks alike.
Where Does Agave Nectar Come From?
Agave nectar (sometimes called agave syrup) is most often produced from the Blue Agaves that thrive in the volcanic soils of Southern Mexico. Agaves are large, spikey plants that resemble cactus or yuccas in both form and habitat, but they are actually succulents similar to the familiar Aloe Vera.
Agaves come in many sizes and colors — well over 100 species. Due to the Blue Agave’s high carbohydrate content (which results in a high percentage of fructose in the final nectar), Blue Agave is the preferred species for producing nectar. Though there are other species used to produce agave nectars, such as the Maguey Agave, the premium nectars are produced from 100% Weber Blue Agave.
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How is Agave Nectar Made?
When the agave has grown to 7-10 years old, the leaves of the plant are cut off, revealing the core of the plant (called the “pina”). When harvested, the pina resembles a giant pineapple and can weigh in at 50 to 150 pounds.
To make the agave nectar, sap is extracted from the pina, filtered, and heated at a low temperature, which breaks down the carbohydrates into sugars. Lighter and darker varieties of agave nectar are made from the same plants. Because of the low temperatures used in processing many varieties (under 118°F) raw foods enthusiasts generally regard agave nectar as a raw food.
What Does Agave Nectar Taste Like?
The taste of agave nectar is comparable, though not identical, to honey. Many people who do not like the taste of honey find agave a more palatable choice. It also has none of the bitter aftertaste associated with artificial sweeteners.
Though some purveyors offer a half dozen varieties of agave nectar based on different plant varieties and varied preparation methods, most brands offer two types: a light and a dark. The lighter syrups undergo less heating and a more thorough filtration to produce a more mildly flavored product that is neutral enough to be used in many culinary applications. The darker syrups are filtered less, and the solids left in the syrup make for a stronger nectar with a flavor sometimes compared to maple syrup.
form more information visit http://www.allaboutagave.com/
attilapersonaltraining 
Hi everyone,
Hope you are all okay. I wasn’t looking forward to training today because of the cold and i knew i was going to jogg outside, i was praying that Attila would give me some others exercise to do indoor instead but as soon as i saw him guess what he told me i try to say it was cold but he was having none of it LOL. Jogging was really hard my legs are killing me but i’m very happy we did it, as this is a typical excuse the cold itself wasn’t bad after couple of minutes i was warm. Thank you guys for your support and Thanks a million Attila for everything. Tons of blessings xxx
Well done Jo – when you do this on a cold but sunny day it is the best. I ran up box hill yesterday morning as the sun was comming out and it was just beautiful – so with sore legs I tried to get out of some hard work with Attila!! can we do this and can we do that , so it would be easier. But no mercy, no pain – no gain, and bloody hell did he make me work hard – but as ever, you feel fantastic afterwards – Attila you are a God 🙂
Hi John,
Thank you, you are doing great too. I know the feeling i don’t know why we try when we know that Attila won’t give in. As you said he is brilliant he make exercise so much enjoyable and he keep proving us that we are stronger than what we think. The best feeling afterwards is knowing that you have give it your best. Take-care 🙂
Oh Jonh,
Thanks a lot! Honesly you are fantastic ( TOUGH MUDDER :-))) ) I love work with you as i love work with Jo as well. Both of you are amazing! Thanks a lot all your hard work!
You are the best, thanks for putting up with us xxx
Good afternoon guys,
Hope you are having a good day. I’m ok going through a rough patches at the moment, really enjoyed kettlebell last night. I’m going jogging and i’m going to do my home plan after work then i’m going to have a long and relaxing bath. I could never thank you enough guys for all your support, thanks for taking the time to comments this mean a lot to me. Tons of love xxx
Hi guys,
Hope you are all good. I’m doing well, I still wake up feeling scare that it’s was all just a dream it feel too good to be true sometimes and that it’s just going to slide away I’m happy that I feel that way because I don’t want to take the all thing for granted and I always give it my best. I’m truly spoiled and I really enjoy the whole experience. Thank you all. Tons of love xxx
Morning everyone,
Have a wonderful day. Thank you for all your support. Loads of hugs xxx