SugarLess Concept opened its doors in Surry Hills at the start of July. Operating with a Chinese influence and a Japanese-inspired fusion bakery concept, their main focus revolves around incorporating the sugar substitute erythritol in lieu of traditional sugar across their product range.

The bakery places particular emphasis on crafting shokupan and bagels, infusing them with Asian twists.

The Hōjicha Latte ($6.00) initially boasted a vibrant roasted flavour, but gradually, the presence of pronounced dairy notes took over after a few sips. The latte’s mouthfeel was relatively thin, which detracted from the overall experience.

Black Sesame Puff Choux ($6.00.88). The choux exhibited a delightful crispness and airiness, complemented by a slightly caramelized cookie top. Within, the cream was airy and exhibited faint hints of black sesame, evident from the visible specks. However, the choux lacked the anticipated richness, and the cream failed to capture the true flavour of black sesame’s nuttiness. While visually appealing, it didn’t quite measure up to the exceptional choux creations found at Azuki Bakery, Newtown.

Chestnut Chocolate Bagel ($7.00.88). This may challenge the traditional bagel appearance as it more closely resembled a bread roll, lacking the characteristic centre hole. It remained unclear whether boiling prior to baking was part of the preparation. Notably, the dough offered a subtle yet enjoyable chocolate flavour. The interior boasted a cream cheese filling infused with chestnut. Regrettably, the presence of the cream cheese aspect, which was undisclosed prior, introduced an undesirable crumbly dairy quality that failed to complement the already crumbly chestnuts. Despite the tender nature of the bread itself, this creation fell short, marking it as a disappointment.

Although the ‘less sugar’ philosophy at SugarLess Concept may draw interest, especially within a health-conscious community, the taste and texture of their baked goods fell below the high standard set by numerous other delightful bakeries in the Surry Hills area.

SugarLess Concept is located at 1/15 Foveaux St, Surry Hills NSW 2010.