Quality Yacon Syrup Review

Disclaimer: I received a product in order to facilitate this review. As always all opinions expressed are solely my own. 

I try to eat a large variety of foods. Instead of being scared off by things that I have never seen or tried I embrace the unknown. However, I am still constantly surprised by new foods and food trends that I haven't tried. Yacon syrup is one trend that I had heard about, but never tried for myself so I was interested when I was offered the chance to review it and share my opinions with my readers.
Yacon is a perennial plant that grows in the Northern and Southern Andes. It is a close relative of the sunflower and recently has become more readily available nationwide through use as Yacon syrup and Yacon tea. It has become popular with diabetics and dieters and can be found in a large variety of health food stores.
The taste is similar to molasses, just a little sweeter tasting. It can be substituted for sugar or molasses in cooking and baking recipes, which is the manner in which I decided to use the Yacon syrup I was sent to review.
I made two recipes using the syrup, one with the syrup unheated (which is the way that many people prefer), and the other in a pumpkin muffin recipe. Here are the two recipes that I made:

Yacon Syrup Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins

• 1 3/4 cup brown rice flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon xanthan gum
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 2 eggs

Combine all ingredients in a mixer. Blend until combined. Bake in a 12 cup muffin pan (with liners or greased), for 20 minutes in a preheated 325 degree oven. 

Yacon Salad Dressing

• 3 tablespoons Yacon syrup
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• salt to taste

Combine all ingredients, serve over spinach or other greens. 
Overall, the Yacon worked well in the recipes that I tried. I did not use it as a dietary supplement like many people have so I can't evaluate it on that component. As a sugar substitute it worked well and my kids didn't notice when I substituted it for sugar. Make sure to refrigerate the syrup after opening. I had a little left in the bottle that I didn't put into the fridge and it solidified on the bottom of the bottle, so don't follow my example! 
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