A monosaccharide (simple sugar), also known colloquially as wood sugar. In nature, the substance is mainly found in the tree species birch, beech, spruce and pine as well as in many edible plant species, for example in grapes. Xylose can also be found in the wood structure of new barrique barrels. This type of sugar, which is difficult to ferment, can only be partially fermented by the special yeast species Brettanomyces.
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Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien