Tag: Stevia plant

Native to South America, the Stevia rebaudiana plant has been used for centuries to sweeten foods. Many people wonder about the difference between stevia and sweet leaf, but in reality, they are closely related terms that describe different forms of the same natural sweetener.

According to the World Sugar Research Organisation, over 79% of the world's sugar is produced from sugarcane, but is stevia made from cane sugar? The short and simple answer is no; stevia and cane sugar come from two entirely different plant sources and are processed in distinct ways.

Stevia sweeteners are made from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, but some commercial varieties use genetically engineered yeast. This creates confusion for consumers who prefer non-GMO products but also want the calorie-free benefits of stevia. The question of whether a specific stevia product is genetically modified depends on its production method, not its plant origin.

Native to South America, the leaves of the stevia plant contain sweet-tasting compounds called steviol glycosides, which are up to 300 times sweeter than table sugar. This natural, zero-calorie sweetener can be used in a variety of culinary applications, making it a popular choice for those looking to reduce their sugar intake. From fresh leaves in a morning smoothie to a homemade liquid extract for beverages, stevia offers a versatile way to add sweetness to your life.

In South America, indigenous communities have used stevia leaves to sweeten food and drink for hundreds of years. While the purified extract from the stevia plant is widely available and approved as safe by regulatory bodies, the question of whether raw, unprocessed leaves are safe to consume directly is more complex. The journey from a green leaf to a white powder involves significant processing that removes potentially harmful compounds, a detail that many home gardeners overlook.

The leaves of the *Stevia rebaudiana* plant contain compounds that are up to 400 times sweeter than table sugar. This incredible sweetness answers the question of what is the main ingredient of stevia: a group of sweet-tasting molecules known as steviol glycosides.

Over 40,000 foods and beverages worldwide contain stevia. A zero-calorie sugar substitute, what is stevia sweetener made out of is a common question, and the answer lies in the highly purified sweet compounds extracted from the leaves of the *Stevia rebaudiana* plant.

For hundreds of years, indigenous peoples in South America have used the leaves of the *Stevia rebaudiana* plant to sweeten food and drink. Today, the intensely sweet compounds, known as steviol glycosides, are extracted and processed using several methods, making them a globally popular zero-calorie sweetener.

Native to South America, the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana) has been used for centuries by indigenous peoples to sweeten foods and drinks. So, what kind of sweetener is stevia? It is a plant-based, non-nutritive sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant.

The stevia plant (*Stevia rebaudiana*) has been used for centuries for its sweetening properties. The core question is: is stevia sugar plant-based, and how does processing affect its natural origins?