Sugar Substitutes - What is Stevia?

Stevia, a calorie free sweetener, is often marketed with simple green leaves to give a natural, organic appeal. However, eating stevia that is available in the United States is not as simple as chomping on pretty green foliage as there is much more that goes into this sweetener than freshly picked leaves. In fact, Stevia is processed in several different ways with each yielding an unrecognizable product compared to the original plant.

The various processing procedures in the US started around 2008 when rebaudioside A, an extract of the stevia plant, was approved by the FDA as a food additive. Products with this extract are most often used at mainstream coffee shops and restaurants to sweeten food and beverages. Some familiar stevia extract brands are Truvia, Stevia in The Raw, and SweetLeaf.

When actually using stevia products, consumers should know that stevia extract has several hundred times more sweetness than sugar. This sweetness may linger on your tongue and could be followed by a slight bitterness. Finally, stevia sometimes has a slight licorice or fennel tinge when used in large quantities. As a result, a great flavor profile can be developed with stevia in select recipes.