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Fructose is also called levulose or fruit sugar, C6H12O6. It is the sweetest of the common sugars, being from 1.1 to 2.0 times as sweet as sucrose. Fructose is generally found in fruits and honey. An apple is 4% sucrose, 6% fructose, and 1% glucose (by weight). A grape (Vitis labrusca) is about 2% sucrose, 8% fructose, 7% glucose, and 2% maltose (by weight) (Shallenberger).

ChEBI: Beta-D-fructopyranose is a D-fructopyranose in which the anomeric centre has beta-configuration. It is an enantiomer of a beta-L-fructopyranose.

Commercially processed fructose is available as white crystals, soluble in water, alcohol, and ether, with a melting point between 103 and 105 °C (217.4 and 221 °F) (decomposition). Fructose can be derived by the hydrolysis of inulin; by the hydrolysis of beet sugar followed by lime separation; and from cornstarch by enzymic or microbial action.