17 October 2025
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.
