The Simple Sweetener Swap That'll Make Your Basic Starbucks Drink A Tad Healthier - Tasting Table

"We'd be remiss to not point out that honey technically has more calories than sugar - about 5 more per teaspoon, to be precise. However, if you're not focused on just counting calories, you'll find that the benefits of honey are far greater. Honey is rife with antioxidants like polyphenols, which fight off chronic illnesses. It also has traces of minerals and vitamins B and C. Plus, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, honey is known to banish coughs and soothe sore throats."

"Although it does contain more calories than sugar, honey tastes sweeter, so you may find that you need less of it in your beverage. This can be particularly helpful for people who need to keep an eye on their blood sugar level, as honey won't make it rise as sharply as sugar does. A dash of honey in your coffee won't change your life monumentally, but with the bit of good it does, it's a great way to make your Starbucks order a little healthier."

"The coffee giant is pretty relaxed with allowing customers to customize drinks as they see fit, but there's a whole category of popular Starbucks drinks that won't work with the honey swap method. Flavored lattes, like the pistachio or blond vanilla latte, come with syrups that contain sugar, and without them, the drink wouldn't be properly flavored. However, there are plenty of drinks that can be made with honey as a sweetener, without sacrificing taste."

Honey contains slightly more calories than sugar—about five extra per teaspoon—but offers additional benefits. Honey provides antioxidants such as polyphenols and small amounts of minerals and vitamins B and C. Honey's anti-inflammatory properties can help suppress coughs and soothe sore throats. Honey tastes sweeter than sugar, so smaller amounts may achieve the same sweetness and cause a smaller blood-sugar spike. Swapping sugar for honey in coffee can modestly improve a beverage's nutritional profile. Flavored lattes that rely on sugary syrups are unsuitable for a honey-only swap. Plain espresso-based drinks like cappuccino, cortado, flat white, or caffe americano work well with honey.

Read at Tasting Table