The present invention relates to a granulated sorbitol of essentially .gamma. crystalline form and having a high sorbitol content, characterized in that it has a specific surface area, determined according to the BET method, of greater than or equal to 2 m.sup.2/g, preferably of between 2.2 and 4 m.sup.2/g, and even more preferably of between 2.5 and 3.5 m.sup.2/g, a compressibility of between 200 and 400 N, preferably of between 250 and 350 N, and a volume-average diameter, measured by laser diffraction particle sizing using a dry-system module, of between 260 and 1000 .mu.m, preferably of between 260 and 500 .mu.m, and even more preferably of between 260 and 350 .mu.m.