Here’s a Key Lime Pie Shake That Won’t Send Your Blood Sugar Through the Roof

Containing no carbs or calories, monk fruit is the go-to sweetener for anyone on a low-carb or ketogenic diet for its incredible ability to naturally sweeten recipes with absolutely no impact on blood sugar levels. But what the heck is monk fruit, anyway? Monk fruit is a small, round fruit native to Southeast Asia and is known by many names, including Buddha fruit and luo han guo. It’s extremely perishable and therefore typically sold dried or distilled in the form of a sweetener in North America and Europe, where it is not grown. Boasting zero calories and having a low- glycemic index, the sweetener – made by crushing the flesh of the fruit and extracting it into a powder or a liquid – is making waves in the health and wellness world. While only recently a phenom in the West, monk fruit has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese herbalism. Monk fruit is a wonderful sweetener for adding to coffee, tea, smoothies and even mains and desserts thanks to its well-rounded flavor profile. Here, we’ve used it to lightly sweeten a refreshing Key Lime Pie-inspired shake that’ll transport right onto the sunny beaches of Key West, Florida.

Key Lime Pie Shake