Stevia Leaf

Stevia is a perennial plant native to parts of Brazil and Paraguay, and currently cultivated in many regions around the world. Stevia Leaf has been in the news in the last few years because it offers a naturally sweet taste with no calories, making it very useful for those trying to watch their weight as well as their sugar intake.

For thousands of years, the indigenous peoples of Paraguay and Brazil have used the leaf of this plant as a natural sweetener. Today, stevia is widely used around the world as a food additive and natural sweetener. In Japan, for example, the sugar-free versions of diet Coke and Wrigley's gum use stevia instead of sugar. Similarly, stevia is embraced as an alternative to sugar in Australia, China, South Korea, most of Europe and all of South America. In the US, however, stevia leaf has not yet been approved as a food additive or given GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status. Per FDA regulations, stevia is to be sold as a "dietary supplement" not a sweetener.

Appearance, aroma and taste profile: Leafy with a mild, pleasant aroma. Sweet with a hint of anise or licorice-like flavor.

Botanical Name: Stevia rebaudiana

Common Names: Kaa he-he, sweet herb of Paraguay, caa-ehe, honey leaf, Candyleaf, Sweetleaf, Sugarleaf