Stevia leaf

Stevia is a perennial plant in the so-called composite family. The plant is native to (sub)tropical South and Central America. The plants are still found in the wild on warm, high plateaus. For example, in the border area between Brazil and Paraguay. In this country, the stevia plant has been used by the original inhabitants for centuries. It serves as a sweetener for in certain drinks, such as maté (traditional drink) and in herbal extracts. Known for stevia, the leaves contain the sweet taste. The substances that make the stevia plant sweet are called steviol glycosides. These sweeteners are extracted from the stevia plant and added to foods.

Healthy properties of Stevia

Stevia is often used to replace sugars in food or drinks. Because of stevia’s intensely sweet taste, it can replace sugars in a drink or meal. The substance steviol glycosides in stevia is intense: about 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar! The sweetener contains no calories, making certain meals or drinks healthier than if it contained extra grams of sugars. Stevia has no effect on blood pressure or blood sugar levels and is suitable for people with diabetes.

Pure stevia

Unlike the chemical sweetener “aspartame,” pure stevia is a natural sweetener. Aspartame is found a lot in products that are not healthy at all, but are a light or zero version of something. These substances are often indicated by E numbers, something that is not exactly in a good light with many people. Pure stevia, on the other hand, is a natural sugar substitute and contains no chemicals. We like to use stevia to make our dishes sweeter in a healthy way, without adding extra sugars. This is how we create healthy and delicious juices and dishes.