Stevia.ws, the Stevia website, is an interactive community on Stevia with recipes, baking tips, information about steviosides and REB-A, all about the sweet herb.

What is Stevia?

Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni is a plant (a member of the chrysanthemum family) native to Paraguay. It has been used to sweeten foods and beverages for more than 1500 years by the native Guarani Indians.

What exactly is Rebaudioside-A?

Rebaudioside-A is one of the two main components used in the creation of the Stevia sweetener. It is the sweeter of the two glycosides extracted from the Stevia leaves. It tastes sweet and is not bitter.

What about if my sugar substitute already has 90% of steviosides?

While this is a good level of steviosides, you should check on the percentage of Rebaudioside-A in the product. 90% or more Rebaudioside-A will make a huge difference to the taste of the product. Compare them and see.

What types of products is Stevia used in?

The list is very long. Amongst the many products made with Stevia are jams, jellies, sweetened drinks, energy bars, candy, toothpaste, mouthwash, ice cream, seafood, cosmetics, gum, baked goods, vitamins, breakfast cereal, sauces and alcohol.

Is Stevia GMO (Genetically Modified)?

No.

Where do companies grow the Stevia plant?

The plants are grown in various regions throughout the world and on almost every continent.

Is Stevia safe?

More than 200 studies have been conducted on the use of Stevia in humans and they have all found the product completely safe. Stevia has been used in food in Japan since the mid-1970s and in South America for hundreds of years. It is approved for use in food in Asia and much of South America. It is an approved dietary supplement in the US, Canada, Australia and some parts of Europe.

Does Stevia dissolve in water?

Yes, Stevia is indeed water-soluble. Just try it.

What is the shelf life of Stevia?

Stevia will be fine for a period of 5 years in powder form if kept away from moisture, and sealed and stored at temperatures of less than 60 degrees Celsius. Liquid Stevia is stable unless it is in direct sunlight.

Is Stevia anti-microbial?

Stevia is naturally anti-microbial, making it an excellent food additive.

Is Stevia pH stable?

Yes, it is very pH stable between pH 2 and 10.

What is the FDA status for Stevia?

Rebaudioside-A has recently been approved by the FDA in the US as a foodstuff. All other Stevia products remain approved as a dietary supplement only with the FDA.

Are there any known allergies to Stevia?

No allergies have been reported to any ingredient in Stevia

Is Stevia gluten-free?

Yes. Stevia is free of wheat, barley, rye or oats.

Can Stevia be used by people who have diabetes?

Stevia is the perfect sugar substitute for anyone with diabetes. It contains no calories and does not impact the glycemic index. It will not cause any changes in your blood glucose at all.

Is Stevia helpful in weight management?

Stevia is a great tool for weight management, because it contains no calories, very low carb counts and has no glycemic index. Eat foods with Stevia, cut your fat grams and get some exercise and you will be on your way to your weight loss goal.

Can I cook with Stevia?

Yes, you can definitely cook with Stevia! It is very heat stable and works well for cooking and baking. Follow the information on the Usage Tips page to get started.

Where does SteSweet (steviana) come from?

SteSweet (steviana) is a pure extract of the Stevia plant.

What makes SteSweet (steviana) better than other Stevia-based sweeteners?

Unlike most stevia-based sweeteners, which are typically a mixture of many components from the stevia leaf and also various fillers, SteSweet (steviana) is made with 97% Rebaudioside A, the preferred constituent of the stevia leaf.

How is SteSweet (steviana) processed?

The first extraction step takes place with the Stevia leaves placed in a series of large open steel tanks where they are stirred with warm to hot water with mixing paddles. They undergo about seven washings on a batch process. The crude liquid is then filtered before being concentrated in heated vessels. The concentrate is then put through ion exchange resin extraction before final crystallization. The final product is a powder (ground crystals). The liquids can only be stored for about 35 days when shipping; therefore, it is not sold commercially.

Why do SteSweet (steviana) products taste better than many other Stevia products?

Our processing removes much of the Stevioside, which is the guilty party in terms of adding bitter taste. The final product has a very high concentration of Rebaudioside-A, over 90%, which is the optimal level for taste.

Is SteSweet (steviana) Kosher?

Yes, it is Kosher certified.

Is SteSweet (steviana) Halal certified?

Yes, it is certified in the Islamic dietary customs.