Stevia (also called sweetleaf, sweet leaf or sugarleaf) is a genus of about 150 species of herbs and shrubs belonging to the Asteraceae (sunflower) family, native to subtropical and tropical South America and Central America (north to Mexico). The species are found in the wild in semi-arid habitats ranging from grassland to mountain terrain. Stevia does produce seeds, but only a small percentage of them germinate. Planting cloned stevia is a much more effective way of reproduction.

Uses

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For centuries, the Guarani Native Americans of Paraguay and Brazil used Stevia species, primarily S. rebaudiana which they called ka'a he'ê ("sweet herb"), as a sweetener in yerba mate and medicinal teas for treating such conditions as obesity, high blood pressure, and heartburn. It has recently seen greater attention with the rise in demand for low-carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternatives, and is widely used as a sweetener in Japan, and is available in the US and Canada as a health food supplement.

In 1931, French chemists isolated the glycosides that give stevia its sweet taste. These extracts were named steviosides and rebaudiosides. These compounds are 250–300 times sweeter than sucrose (ordinary table sugar). Stevia's sweet taste has a slower onset and longer duration than sugar's, and especially at high concentration, it has bitter and liquorice-like off-tastes. Stevia does not significantly alter blood glucose, and so is attractive as a sweetener to diabetics and others on carbohydrate controlled diets.

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Green slush puppie for breakfast. Green slurpee. Half thawed a frozen swan greens, shook it up w/ liquid stevia... all slushy, icy, sweet.
sarma (Sarma Melngailis) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:50:16 -0000
Green slush puppie for breakfast. Green slurpee. Half thawed a frozen swan greens, shook it up w/ liquid stevia... all slushy, icy, sweet.
Sahelian says, "This stevia liquid is simply the best tasting stevia sweetener product I have personally come across. http://bit.ly/3s909j
SteviaNews (HH) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:16:04 -0000
Sahelian says, "This stevia liquid is simply the best tasting stevia sweetener product I have personally come across. http://bit.ly/3s909j
Is the Sweetener Stevia Safe? | healthkicker: America, being as fat as it is, thrives on the diet industry, and.. http://bit.ly/1vyh8f
ScottJimm (Jimmy Neal Scott ) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:42:11 -0000
Is the Sweetener Stevia Safe? | healthkicker: America, being as fat as it is, thrives on the diet industry, and.. http://bit.ly/1vyh8f
Sweet Leaf’s Stevia Clear Liquid Vanilla 2oz: SweetLeaf Flavored Liquid Stevia is all natural, zero c.. http://bit.ly/3HLG16
Cornucopiastore (The Cornucopia Store) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:04:09 -0000
Sweet Leaf’s Stevia Clear Liquid Vanilla 2oz: SweetLeaf Flavored Liquid Stevia is all natural, zero c.. http://bit.ly/3HLG16
Is the Sweetener Stevia Safe? | healthkicker http://bit.ly/4EdnJ1
healthcoffee (Sherri) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:38:23 -0000
Is the Sweetener Stevia Safe? | healthkicker http://bit.ly/4EdnJ1
SWEET NEWS: S.Amer.plant STEVIA,containing "steviol glycosides,"is 300x sweeter than sugar..minus the calories.[European Food Info. Council]
Borelmedwriter (Helen Borel,PhD) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:18:15 -0000
SWEET NEWS: S.Amer.plant STEVIA,containing "steviol glycosides,"is 300x sweeter than sugar..minus the calories.[European Food Info. Council]

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