Birch sugar
NAME | BIRCH SUGAR |
ORIGIN | he Finns are the only producers of natural xylitol. This is important to note because xylitol can be of synthetic origin (E967). |
INCI | Xylitol |
Xylitol is a vegetable sweetener extracted from the birch bark. It is so named because "xylo" means "wood" in Greek.
Xylitol is also called birch sugar because it is mainly obtained from the bark of this tree. In cosmetics, it is used as a humectant and in toothpaste, it is appreciated for its slightly sweet taste. The ingredient is not cariogenic (cavity-inducing, as sugar can be). Studies have also shown that when used over a long period of time, it can, on the contrary, have an anti-cavity effect, by increasing the salivary flow and the pH while reducing the number of cariogenic bacteria.