SWEETENER COMPOSITIONS

1 . A solid sweetening composition comprising erythritol and a complex sweetener.

2 . The solid sweetening composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition provides more than about 0.7 grams of SES per gram and the composition contains less than 16 kcals per 4 gram of SES.

3 . The solid sweetening composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a crystalline matrix containing the erythritol and the complex sweetener.

4 . The solid sweetening composition of claim 1 , wherein the complex sweetener is selected from the group consisting of agave nectar; agave nectar solids, a fruit nectars; a dried fruit, honey; raw cane sugar; muscovado, maple syrup; barley malt syrup; molasses, molasses solids; turbinado sugar, demerara sugar; a sweet polysaccharide, and combinations thereof.

5 . A method for producing a solid sweetening composition comprising erythritol and a dry complex sweetener, the method comprising the steps of:

a) melting the erythritol;

b) adding the dry complex sweetener to the melted erythritol;

c) mixing the dry complex sweetener into the melted erythritol to form a blend;

d) cooling the blend until solid; and

e) grinding the cooled mixture to a desired particle size, wherein the ratio of erythritol to complex sweetener is between about 95.5 and 25.75% by weight.

6 . The solid sweetening composition of claim 5 , wherein the complex sweetener is selected from the group consisting of agave nectar; agave nectar solids, a fruit nectars; a dried fruit, honey; raw cane sugar; muscovado, maple syrup; barley malt syrup; molasses, molasses solids; turbinado sugar, demerara sugar; a sweet polysaccharide, and combinations thereof.

7 . A method for producing a solid sweetening composition comprising erythritol and a complex sweetener, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) blending the erythritol and the complex sweetener to form a blend;

(b) melting the blend;

(c) cooling the melted blend until set; and

(d) grinding the cooled mixture of step (c) to desired particle size, wherein the ratio of erythritol to complex sweetener is between about 95.5 and 25.75% by weight.

8 . The solid sweetening composition of claim 7 , wherein the complex sweetener is selected from the group consisting of agave nectar; agave nectar solids, a fruit nectars; a dried fruit, honey; raw cane sugar; muscovado, maple syrup; barley malt syrup; molasses, molasses solids; turbinado sugar, demerara sugar; a sweet polysaccharide, and combinations thereof.

9 . A method for producing a solid sweetening composition comprising erythritol and a liquid complex sweetener, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) melting the erythritol;

(b) adding the liquid complex sweetener to the melted erythritol;

(c) mixing the liquid complex sweetener into the melted erythritol to form a blend;

(d) boiling the blend until substantially all water is removed;

(e) cooling the blend until solid; and

(f) grinding the cooled mixture of step (e) to desired particle size wherein the ratio of erythritol to complex sweetener is between about 95.5 and 25.75% by weight.

10 . The solid sweetening composition of claim 9 , wherein the complex sweetener is selected from the group consisting of agave nectar, a fruit nectar, molasses, honey, maple syrup, other trees syrup, and combinations thereof.

11 . A method for producing a solid sweetening composition comprising erythritol and a complex sweetener, the method comprising the steps of:

a) blending the erythritol and the liquid complex sweetener to form a blend;

b) melting the blend;

c) boiling the blend until substantially all water is removed;

d) cooling the melted blend until solid; and

e) grinding the cooled mixture of step (d) to a desired particle size, wherein the ratio of erythritol to complex sweetener is between about 95.5 and 25.75% by weight.

12 . The solid sweetening composition of claim 11 , wherein the complex sweetener is selected from the group consisting of agave nectar, a fruit nectar, molasses, honey, maple syrup, other tree syrup, and combinations thereof.

13 . A method of sweetening a comestible comprising adding a sweetening amount of a solid sweetening composition comprising erythritol and a complex sweetener.

14 . The method of sweetening the comestible of claim 13 , wherein the solid sweetening composition provides more than about 0.7 grams of SES per gram and the composition contains less than 16 kcals per 4 gram of SES.

15 . The method of sweetening the comestible of claim 14 , wherein the solid sweetening composition is a crystalline matrix containing the erythritol and the complex sweetener.

16 . The method of sweetening the comestible of claim 14 , wherein the complex sweetener is selected from the group consisting of agave nectar; agave nectar solids, a fruit nectars; a dried fruit, honey; raw cane sugar; muscovado, maple syrup; barley malt syrup; molasses, molasses solids; turbinado sugar, demerara sugar; a sweet polysaccharide, and combinations thereof.