Author: Sarah Maki

The leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant are a source of sweetness. The root and stem of the stevia plant are not known to have a sweet taste.[1] Stevia leaves carry the sweetness of the plant, but a closer look reveals some parts to the leaves tend to taste better than others. This realization provided a challenge to those working to develop stevia-based sweeteners: how to isolate and extract the best tasting parts while removing the less pleasing off-tastes. It took years to learn how to uncover the best-tasting parts of the stevia leaves. Eventually, product developers learned...

Stevia leaf extract comes from the leaves of the stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant—more commonly known as “stevia”. Stevia has been a source of high-intensity sweetness for centuries, though the sweetness produced in the early years was often inconsistent and contained stray flavors. The stevia plant grows best in tropical and sup-tropical climates. Stevia is Grown, Harvested and Extracted Stevia plants tend to be grown on small farms in Asia, South America or other tropical/sub-tropical climates. To extract the plant’s intense sweetness, stevia leaves are harvested and dried. The leaves are then steeped in hot water. After multiple stages of...

Many people wonder about the difference between artificial and stevia-based sweeteners—and why they might choose one over another. Stevia-based sweeteners can be distinguished from artificial sweeteners because their sweetness derives from a plant. Many feel good about plant-based sweeteners because of the origin of their sweetness. Numerous global authorities have determined that there are no safety issues with the consumption of authorized artificial sweeteners that are used as intended with local regulations. The decision to use a stevia-based sweetener vs. an artificial sweetener really comes down to preference on taste and if you care about where the ingredients in...

You may enjoy sweet treats, yet you also know the sweetness in those treats comes with calories. By sweetening with stevia-based sweeteners, you can get the sweetness you enjoy in a way that does not add the number of calories as if you were to sweeten with sugar alone. Stevia Leaf Extract has Zero Calories—Good News for Weight Management Stevia leaf extract may be an excellent option for those looking to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle because it has zero calories. The great thing about stevia leaf extract is that it’s a tool that will allow you to...