Quick Start
These are hookbait tools.
Not food ingredients.
They work at tiny doses and amplify flavours.
Think signal — not nutrition.
What they’re good for
- Pop-ups
- Wafters
- Soaked hookbaits
- Cold-water attraction
They create a strong taste cue without adding calories.
What High-Intensity Sweeteners Actually Do
They:
- Amplify flavour perception
- Increase first-bite confidence
- Provide strong taste at extremely low inclusion
- Work well when carp are pressured
They do not provide calories, nutrition, or long-term feeding value.
They are behavioural triggers — not food sources.
The main players
NHDC
Long-lasting sweetness. Very potent.
Thaumatin
Protein-based. Heat stable. Excellent in hookbaits.
Sucralose
Clean sweetness. Easy to find.
Ace-K / Stevia
Background sweetness. Can taste sharp alone.
Typical use rates
0.2–2 g per kg dry mix
or
a few drops per egg mix
Always pre-dilute.
Never dump straight in.
Michigan advice
Cold water:
- NHDC + glycerin works well.
Warm water:
- Thaumatin blended into flavour.
Always keep these out of feed boilies.
Common errors
Overdosing
Using in base mixes
Relying on sweeteners instead of bait quality
Not dissolving powders first
Next steps
Read Inclusion Rates & Mistakes to avoid ruining texture.
Building food-based sweetness?