Just like Sugar: An Alternative to Artificial Sweeteners?

We've been tricked before by artificial sweeteners saying they were made from sugar, are like sugar, tastes like sugar, and can be used for cooking and such, but then we purchase the product, use it, start to see manufacturers putting it on their products, only to discover later that someone else says it's bad for us.

Boy, was that a mouthful, but I assure you that was a complete sentence that was properly grammatically correct. Speaking of mouthfuls, why not try a mouthful of just like sugar?

The good news is, Just Like Sugar is offering a free sample via U.S. mail. I'll provide the instructions for that at the end of this article, but let me tell you a little about the product first.

Just Like Sugar is made from Chicory root, calcium, vitamin C, natural flavors from orange peel. When you come to the front page, you'll receive an absolutely annoying serenade and irritating banner scroller that says:

Just Like Sugar tastes like sugar, bakes likes sugar, cooks like sugar, browns like sugar, has the same brick as sugar, sauces like sugar, cracks like sugar, carmelizes like sugar... and then it goes on to say lots of other things too, including 0 soy, 0 yeast, no animal derivatives, No "MSG", No L-Glutamic Acid, No D-Glutamic Acid, No Aspartic Acid or preservatives; it is not fermentable and will not promote tooth decay.

However, the song on the front page of the Web site I had to listen to several times to read the scrolling banner might just make you sick. Fair warning! Oh, and then it autodirects to the main page of the Web site, and you hear a nice announcer voice, speaking very loudly, with no means to turn him off. By the third refresh to that page when I was looking for information, I was reading to scream at that man. Just keep in mind, you'll have to hear that man every time you go to the 'home' page.

Just Like Sugar can be purchased in 5.82oz shaker and spoonable bottles at many supermarket chains, such as Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Henry's Farmer's Markets, and Sun Harvest Markets. It's also available to be purchased online from the Just Like Sugar Web site.

Fortunately measuring Just Like Sugar is simple, when one tsp of Just Like Sugar equals on tsp of regular cane sugar in sweetening power, but Just Like Sugar has no calories!

Now, I promised you a link to get a free sample. On my way to do that, I realized the Just Like Sugar domain (www.justlikesugarinc.com) is masked and actually is served by the domain: http://www.amazon-treasures.com/, which is currently registered to Amazon Natural Treasures, Inc. Because of the way the domain is currently masked, I had to hunt to get you a link for the free sample, because the domain page ALWAYS stayed: www.justlikesugarinc.com on every page of the site.

So here's your link to try a free sample of Just Like Sugar: http://www.amazon-treasures.com/justlikesugar/samples/index.html

I did like the taste of Just Like Sugar, and I recommend it if you can find it in your local area as a healthier alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners.

However, I do not recommend Just Like Sugar's Web site! It is very poor web development, and very annoying too! I hope they update that and get a better performing Web site than the one they have no, and I sure could do without that announcer's voice every time I go to the home page, or did I already mention that?

It gets worse. After you order your free sample, the confirmation page plays a very loud version of the Star Spangled Banner, complete with loud cymbal crashes, and a flashing animation of firecrackers and blinking lights that will drive you further mad.

Really, Just Like Sugar, your product's good enough you don't need all that hype! Fix the Web site!