INDIVIDUAL PACKETS
2025 BUYING GUIDE
In my quest to help home cooks navigate the complex world of sugar alternatives, I’ve reviewed dozens of single-serve sweetener packets to answer one of the most common questions I get: What’s the best sugar-free sweetener for coffee and tea? This guide breaks down natural and artificial options—from stevia and monk fruit to sucralose and aspartame—so you can find the right packet for your needs.
WHY CHOOSE SWEETENER PACKETS?
Individual packets (also called sachets or sticks) offer a convenient, pre-measured way to sweeten without spoons. These are the best sweeteners for coffee, tea, or other beverages, especially when you’re on the go.
✅ 3 Advantages of Single Packets
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Portion Control & Consistency
No need for conversion charts and guesswork—each packet is typically as sweet as 2 teaspoons of sugar, so you get the same sweetness every time. -
On-the-Go Convenience
Perfect for travel, work, or dining out. Just toss a few in your bag and you’re always prepared. -
Less Mess, No Measuring Spoons
No sticky residue or powder spills — just tear, pour, and toss.
❌ 3 Disadvantages of Single Packet
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Higher Cost Per Serving
Packets often cost more than buying the same sweetener in bulk. -
Not Ideal for Cooking or Baking
You’d need too many packets for recipes, making it impractical and expensive. -
Annoying Cleanup
Every packet leaves behind a wrapper—so you’re always picking up bits of trash to keep your counter or table clean.
TWO TYPES OF SWEETENER PACKETS
You can choose from two main types of sweetener packets—natural or artificial—based on the high-intensity sweetener inside. Knowing the difference can help you find the one that best fits your preferences and needs.
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NATURAL SWEETENER PACKETS
These contain high-intensity sweeteners derived from plants, like stevia and monk fruit. Most of the packet's weight comes from bulk sweeteners such as erythritol, inulin, allulose, glucose, or maltodextrin. Note: Pure xylitol is sold in packets too, but it’s a reduced-calorie sweetener—not zero-calorie.
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ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER PACKETS
These contain man-made high-intensity sweeteners, like sucralose, aspartame, and saccharin. Because they're so intensely sweet, they're blended with bulk sweeteners such as glucose and maltodextrin, which make up most of the packet's weight. These tend to be way more affordable than the natural ones.
PICK YOUR SWEETENER PACKET
Brands and Products
Keep reading to learn all about single-serve sweetener packets, or if you're short on time, jump straight to what you would like to explore by clicking below:
NATURAL
Looking for a natural option? The packets below contain the high-intensity sweeteners stevia leaf extract or monk fruit extract blended with bulk ingredients like erythritol, allulose, inulin, glucose, or maltodextrin. To dive deeper, check out my super comprehensive guides below:
You’ll also find xylitol sold in packets—both on its own and blended with stevia. When used in pure form, it’s not zero-calorie: one packet can have about 15 calories, making it a reduced-calorie option.
For details, see my full 2025 Xylitol Buying Guide.
The color code for natural sweetener packets tends to be green for stevia and, launching in spring 2025, neon pink for WhatSugar-approved sweeteners, our very own zero-calorie, certified organic line of sugar alternatives. Email us at info@whatsugar.com for launch updates or visit the WhatSugar shop.
ARTIFICIAL
Ever wonder what’s in those colorful sweetener packets in nearly every coffee shop, hotel, and restaurant across America?
The classic yellow, blue, and pink packets each represent a different type of artificial sweetener: yellow for sucralose, blue for aspartame, and pink for saccharin. These are high-intensity sweeteners but most of the packet’s weight—often over 99%—comes from bulk ingredients like glucose and maltodextrin. To dive deeper, check out my super comprehensive guide below:
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