Agave Nectar 101: The Quick Skinny

Agave (pronounced "ah-GAH-vay") is produced from desert plants in Mexico -- the same dessert plants from which tequila is produced. Agave plants are usually large, have spikes, and often resemble cacti.

Sap is extracted from the agave plant, heated at a very low temperature (hence its raw-foodie following), and turned into syrup, i.e., agave nectar.

Are there health benefits? Well, sorta. It's a natural sweetener with a low glycemic index, so your body doesn't process it like sugar -- but it's 75 percent stronger than sugar. (So you only need a very small amount.) If you're looking to shed weight, however, agave nectar is probably not for you, as it's not low in calories.