Does sweetness (of food) exist without sugar?

Question

I have this tea. It's naturally sweet with licorice root. It tastes so good I can't describe. Anyway, this herbal type of sweetness, does it act the same way sugar does in regards to teeth and plaque? Is it sweet because there is some form of sugar within it, or is it possible to just have sweetness without sugar (in any of it's forms)??

Thanks.

Answer 1

Stevia and anise/licorice root are natural sweeteners that do not contain sugar or at least not sugar we can digest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia

Answer 2

According to organic chemistry, different tastes, such as sweetness, are determined by molecule shapes. But, the different forms of what make something sweet aren't exactly the same in their attributes, so some sweet things have more sweet taste than sugar, but less of the negative aspects you mentioned. The negative aspects are still there, but maybe not to the same degree depending upon the sweetener chosen.

Answer 3

Careful with the licorice root as it can make the blood pressure go up.

Sugars are sugars are sugars and, yes, will act badly on the teeth, yes.