A variety of carbohydrate-based polyesters of the poly(alkylene dicarboxylate) type were obtained by polycondensation reactions of the alditols 2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-L-arabinitol and 2,3,4-tri-O-methylxylitol, and the aldaric acids 2,3,4-tri-O- methyl-L-arabinaric acid and 2,3,4-tri-O-methylxylaric acid. Butanediol and adipic acid were also used as comonomers. Co-polyesters of the poly(alkylene-co-arylene dicarboxylate) type were obtained using bisphenols as comonomers. Chemical polycondensation reactions were conducted in bulk or in solution. Enzymatic polycondensation reactions of adipic acid with the above-mentioned alditols were carried out successfully using Lipozyme and Novozyme 435. Depending on the chemical structure, the new polyesters were syrups, gums, or amorphous solids, and were characterized by H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopies, GPC, viscosimetry, and DSC measurements. The hydrolytic degradations of some of these polyesters are also described.