Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) aka Eupatorium rebaudianum
Family: Asteraceae whole leaf. Also known as candyleaf, Paraguayan sweet herb, sweetleaf.
Sold by the gram, $0.0782/g. Please bring or order a bag.
MAIL ORDER
Please order a minimum of 100g and buy a bag or tell us in the Comments with your order that you want us to pack your order in a repurposed bag.
DESCRIPTION
Stevia is one of a family of plants that are native to South America and have been used for centuries to sweeten drinks and foods. Stevia leaves are said to be from 30 to 300 times sweeter than sugar * though the amount of sweetness varies from leaf to leaf and plant to plant. It is touted as a natural alternative to artificial sweeteners.
To date, chemical analysis and studies show that the leaf adds no calories, has no harmful side effects and is more palatable with less aftertaste than any artificial, chemical sweetener to date. Stevia has been in wide use in South America for centuries, and in Japan since the government banned the use of artificial sweeteners. To date, no harmful side effects have come to light, making stevia one of the most promising sugar alternatives available. Stevoside, made from stevia, is approved as a food additive in Korea, and is widely available throughout China, Taiwan and Malaysia.
CONSTITUENTS
Diterpene glycosides, steviol, dulcoside, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside A, isosteviol, stevioside, jhanol, flavonoid glycosides, quercetin,
COMMON USES
As a tea, in dry tea blends, and in food and beverages as a sweetener. Can be tinctured or infused to sweeten tooth pastes, serums and powders.
DISCLAIMER
The information presented on this website is for informational, reference and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as a substitute for diagnosis and treatment by a health care practitioner.
Photo thanks to Ethel Aardvark, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
