PURPOSE: To prepare a sweetener having a sucrose-like sweeteness and excellent water-solubility, by mixing a hydrated glucose crystal having a specific water- content with α-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, and drying the mixture.

CONSTITUTION: The objective sweetener can be prepared by mixing (A) hydrated crystalline glucose having a water-content of 10W15% (preferably the raw crystal of the hydrated crystalline glucose obtained after the separation of molasses in the preparation of hydrated crystalline glucose) with (B) α-L-aspartyl-L- phenylalanine methyl ester, and drying the mixture. The weight ratio of A:B is preferably 100:0.3W10.