Understanding Stevia: From Plant to Packet
Stevia is a zero-calorie, high-intensity sweetener derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, native to South America. The plant's leaves contain sweet compounds called steviol glycosides. While the raw leaf has been used for centuries, the white powder or liquid extract found in supermarkets and products like Truly is a highly refined version. The journey from leaf to sweetener involves an extensive manufacturing process.
The Extraction and Purification Process
- Harvesting: The stevia leaves are harvested from the plant.
- Drying: The leaves are dried, similar to tea leaves.
- Hot Water Extraction: The dried leaves are steeped in hot water to extract the sweet glycosides.
- Filtration: The liquid extract is filtered to remove the solid leaf particles.
- Purification: The liquid is further purified through various steps, including crystallization, often using food-grade alcohol. This removes the bitter-tasting components and isolates the sweetest glycosides, like rebaudioside A (Reb A).
- Drying: The purified extract is dried into a powder or liquid form.
Is Processed Stevia Still "Natural"?
Because the high-purity stevia used in commercial products undergoes significant processing, its "natural" status is a subject of debate. While its origin is undeniably a plant, the end product is a highly refined ingredient, a distinction that food regulators and consumers consider important. The FDA, for instance, has approved high-purity steviol glycosides as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) for food use, but has not approved the use of the whole stevia leaf or crude extracts.
Deconstructing Truly's Ingredients
The Truly Hard Seltzer ingredients list confirms the use of "stevia sweetener," but it's important to understand what this means in the context of a hard seltzer.
- Stevia Sweetener: This refers to the high-purity steviol glycoside extract. It provides the bulk of the sweetness without adding calories or carbohydrates, which is key to Truly's low-calorie profile.
- Cane Sugar: Interestingly, some Truly products, like the Poolside variety pack, also list cane sugar in their ingredients. This shows that Truly is not exclusively sweetened with stevia but rather uses a blend of sweeteners to achieve its desired taste profile. The cane sugar provides a more familiar sweetness while contributing a small amount of calories.
- Other Ingredients: In addition to water and alcohol, Truly contains natural flavors, citric acid for tartness, and other ingredients to balance the flavor profile and minimize any potential bitterness from the stevia.
Taste Profile Considerations
Pure stevia can have a delayed onset of sweetness and a lingering bitter or licorice-like aftertaste, especially at higher concentrations. This is a key reason why food manufacturers, including the makers of Truly, use a combination of sweeteners. Blending stevia extract with other ingredients helps to mask or balance any off-flavors, creating a more palatable, sugar-like taste experience for the consumer.
Stevia in Truly vs. Other Sweetener Products: A Comparison
To highlight the difference between stevia as an ingredient and as a product, here's a comparison table featuring Truly Hard Seltzer, pure stevia extract, and the popular brand Truvia.
| Feature | Truly Hard Seltzer (e.g., Fruit Punch) | Pure Stevia Extract (Powder/Liquid) | Truvia Sweetener Blend (e.g., Packets) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Sweetener | Stevia extract and other sweeteners like cane sugar | High-purity steviol glycosides (e.g., Reb A) | Stevia extract (Reb A) and Erythritol |
| Ingredients | Filtered water, alcohol, natural flavors, citric acid, cane sugar (in some varieties), stevia sweetener | Steviol glycosides (often Reb A) | Erythritol, Rebiana (Reb A), natural flavors |
| Calories | Low-calorie (typically 100 calories per can) | Zero-calorie | Zero-calorie |
| Taste Experience | Blended sweetness, balanced flavor, minimal off-tastes | Intense sweetness, potential bitter/licorice aftertaste | Sweet, sugar-like taste, less aftertaste due to erythritol blend |
| Primary Use | Sweetened alcoholic beverage | Tabletop sweetener, baking, recipes | Tabletop sweetener, baking |
Safety and Regulation of Stevia
Regulatory bodies worldwide, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have extensively reviewed the safety of high-purity steviol glycosides.
- High-Purity Stevia is Safe: The FDA has granted GRAS status to high-purity stevia leaf extracts, allowing their use as a food additive. An Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) has been established to ensure safety for long-term consumption.
- Whole Leaf Not Approved: Conversely, the FDA has not approved the use of whole stevia leaves or crude stevia extracts for use in food. In 2019, an import alert was placed on these products from certain origins due to concerns about potential toxicity. The distinction between the raw leaf and the refined extract is critical for regulatory purposes.
- Potential Side Effects: While generally safe, some individuals may experience mild digestive issues from ingredients commonly blended with stevia, such as the erythritol found in Truvia. Studies have found stevia to be safe for gut bacteria, but personal tolerance can vary.
Key Takeaways on Stevia in Truly
In conclusion, when you see "stevia sweetener" on a can of Truly Hard Seltzer, you are consuming a highly purified extract of the stevia leaf, not the unprocessed herb. This zero-calorie sweetener is part of a blend that includes other ingredients, and sometimes cane sugar, to provide a balanced and pleasant taste. Its use is approved for safety by major regulatory bodies, ensuring that this modern, low-calorie beverage option is a well-established and monitored product. Ultimately, it's the high-purity extract that is truly in Truly, not the simple leaf from the plant.
Further Reading
For more information on stevia's production and safety, you can visit the International Stevia Council, which provides detailed resources on the topic.
