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Purchasing cost guide
Sweetener Prices Compared: Cost per Equal Sweetness (Allulose, Erythritol, Stevia, Monk Fruit)
Compare sweetener prices by cost per equal sweetness: a worked formula with dosage, bulk and processing adjustments.
When buying sweetener blends, compare sweetness first. Products that are 1× and 5× as sweet as sugar have different prices per kilogram; the kilogram price alone cannot tell you which costs less. First calculate the ingredient cost of supplying equal sugar sweetness, then assess actual taste and dosage.
A product with a higher price per kilogram may also have a higher relative sweetness and therefore cost less on an equal-sweetness basis. The final comparison is how much sweetener, and how much money, you need to make the same quantity of finished product while meeting its taste and product requirements.
Start here: what does it cost to provide the sweetness of 1 kg of sugar?
Comparing by weight and setting sugar’s sweetness at 1, 1 kg of a 1× product provides approximately the sweetness of 1 kg of sugar; 1 kg of a 5× product provides approximately that of 5 kg of sugar. This compares sweetness, not an equal replacement for sugar’s bulk or other processing functions. Ingredient cost to replace the sweetness of 1 kg of sugar = sweetener price per kilogram ÷ sweetness relative to sugar. The following hypothetical figures illustrate the calculation. They are not Hengliyuan quotations, recommended dosages or customer cases:
| Comparison | 1× sweetness formula | 5× sweetness formula |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetness relative to sugar | 1× | 5× |
| Hypothetical purchase price | CNY 20/kg | CNY 50/kg |
| Quantity providing the sweetness of 1 kg of sugar | 1 kg | 0.2 kg |
| Ingredient cost on an equal-sweetness basis | CNY 20 | CNY 10 |
The 5× formula costs CNY 50/kg, higher than the 1× formula at CNY 20/kg, but only one-fifth as much is needed for equal sweetness. Its ingredient cost for replacing the sweetness of 1 kg of sugar is CNY 10: half the cost of the 1× formula in this hypothetical example. When comparing supplier quotations, ask for both the kilogram price and relative sweetness. A high-intensity product is not necessarily more expensive, nor is a 1× product necessarily cheaper to use. Calculate with the relevant quotations; the example’s cost difference must not be applied to every product.
Check that you are comparing the same use
Monk fruit extract, sweetener blends for factories and consumer tabletop sweeteners serve different purposes. They cannot be ranked simply by kilogram price. In Hengliyuan’s selection experience, extracts are better suited to factories with formulation capabilities, as one ingredient in a complete formula. Sweetener blends suit customers needing Hengliyuan’s help to adjust a sweetening formula for addition at an agreed dosage, and can also be used for OEM retail products. When comparing an extract with a finished blend, include the other ingredients, mixing and testing needed for the extract-based approach. The quotation for a single extract is not the cost of a ready-to-use solution.
How do you calculate actual cost in use?
Sweetener ingredient cost per batch = actual dosage (kg) × purchase price (CNY/kg). Sweetener cost per kilogram of finished product = sweetener ingredient cost per batch ÷ finished batch weight (kg). If you buy several ingredients to blend yourself, multiply each ingredient’s quantity by its unit price, then add the results. Using the same hypothetical example, if a finished batch needs the sweetness of 10 kg of sugar, the initial sweetness calculation requires 10 kg of the 1× formula at CNY 200, or 2 kg of the 5× formula at CNY 100. This is a sweetness-cost estimate before trials; calculate the final cost using the actual dosage confirmed by samples. If reducing the sweetener quantity requires additional ingredients for bulk or solids, include those costs too. The calculations above exclude packaging, transport and processing.
After normalizing sweetness, confirm cost in the actual formula
Relative sweetness is an important basis for comparing prices and can establish a starting point for trials. After the initial comparison, confirm dosage through testing in the actual product. When adjusting formulas, Hengliyuan considers initial sweetness, how long sweetness lingers and bitterness. Two products with similar overall sweetness may still taste different; changing a monk fruit extract’s concentration grade affects more than sweetness. If increasing one ingredient’s proportion to reduce dosage makes sweetness linger too long or causes unwanted aftertastes, the calculation alone does not make that formula more suitable. First adjust taste to the requirements, then calculate cost at the confirmed dosage.
The presence or absence of stevia does not determine cost
In Hengliyuan’s formulation approach, adding stevia is mainly about adjusting taste, pairing its initial sweetness with monk fruit’s lingering sweetness. A stevia-free erythritol–monk fruit formula can also achieve a similar taste effect by combining several monk fruit extracts. A blend containing stevia should not automatically be seen as a low-price option, nor should a stevia-free blend be assumed to taste worse or necessarily cost more. First establish whether stevia is acceptable, the ingredient grades, final ratios and dosage, then compare the corresponding quotations.
How do factory ingredients and OEM retail products differ in costing?
| Purchasing purpose | Costs to include |
|---|---|
| Buying a sweetener blend for factory use | Ingredient cost at the actual dosage, plus packaging, transport and necessary processing under the delivery terms |
| Buying multiple ingredients to blend yourself | All ingredient costs, plus on-site weighing, mixing, testing and actual losses |
| OEM finished sticks, pouches or jars | Contents, packaging materials, filling or portioning, outer cartons and agreed transport costs |
Do not count the same cost twice. For example, if packaging is already included in the quotation, do not add it again. When comparing suppliers, check that currency, delivery location and included costs are consistent. Calculate OEM products by the actual retail unit too: cost per stick for sticks and per jar for jars, considering net weight and the recommended amount per use. Equal pack weights do not mean consumers need equal amounts to reach the target sweetness.
What information helps Hengliyuan quote a comparable option?
Rather than asking only for the lowest kilogram price, provide the following: - Product use: factory ingredient, tabletop sweetener or OEM retail product. - Ingredient requirements: whether stevia is acceptable and whether a particular option, such as erythritol-free, is needed. - Sweetness and taste targets: equal-weight use compared with sugar or a smaller dosage; what needs improving in the current sample. - Purchasing and packaging requirements: expected quantity, pack format, delivery location and required documents. If dosage is not yet set, select samples for the target product first. Once taste is confirmed, calculate costs at the actual dosage. Customers with a formulation team can discuss ingredients and combinations; those needing a ready-to-use blend or OEM product can ask Hengliyuan to help develop it for the application. Explore Hengliyuan custom sweetener blends
Review note
Reviewed October 2, 2026.
Common questions
Does a higher unit price always mean a higher cost in use?
No. First divide the kilogram price by relative sweetness to compare the ingredient cost of equal sugar sweetness, then calculate using the dosage in the actual formula. In the hypothetical example above, the 5× formula has a higher kilogram price but a lower cost on an equal-sweetness basis.
Is buying ingredients to blend yourself always cheaper than buying a finished blend?
No. Self-blending requires all ingredient costs and actual mixing, testing and loss costs. A finished blend is calculated using its specifications, dosage and delivery terms. Cost both approaches before comparing them.
Can a supplier’s recommended dosage be used for final costing?
It can be used for an initial budget. Final cost should use the dosage confirmed by trials in the actual product. If the formula or processing conditions change, confirm it again.
