About Stevia

Stevia is a shrub of the chrysanthemum family (Asteraceae) native to subtropical and tropical South America and Central America. For many years, it has been used as a culinary herb by the native Indians in South America. Today, Stevia Rebaudiana as we know it has been cultivated for its sweetening properties in Food & Beverage applications with the main supply coming from China today. As a sweetener and sugar substitute, Stevia has a slower taste onset and last longer than sugar. Its extracts also possess licorice-like aftertaste.

With the extract having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, Stevia has garnered attention with the demand for low-carbohydrate & low-sugar food alternatives. Research has shown its benefit in treating obesity and high blood pressure. Because Stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose, it is attractive as a natural sweetener to people on carbohydrate-controlled diets.

Treatment of osteoporosis has been suggested by observations that eggshell breakage can be reduced by 75% by adding a small percentage of Stevia leaf powder to chicken feed, and pigs fed with 2% Stevia in their feed experienced a doubling of serum calcium.

Plantation

Stevia grows best in conditions ranging from grassland to mountain terrain between heights of 400 to 1000ft from sea level most suitably with cool & long sunny temperate. Although it produces seeds, only a small percentage germinate & planting from its stem is considered the more effective method of reproduction. Most commercially grown Stevia today originates from China. Other areas being planted include in Latin America.

It’s Composition.

Stevia - also referred as Steviol Glycosides or Steviosides consist of 9 Glycosides. Each glycoside posses its own chemical structure, taste profile & quality of sweetness. Details are as in the table below.

Rebaudioside-A & Stevioside makes up almost 95% of the Total Glycosides Content in the leaf. Their percentage ratio differs according to leaf species. The key of getting the best tasting Stevia lies not just in the species but also on factors such as the Technology and Research & Development ability of processor etc.

Each Glycoside can be isolated, processed & used on it’s own but practically, only Rebaudioside-A & Stevioside is possible for this purpose due to its high content in the leaf. Given the nature of Stevia possessing multiple & varying level of each Glycoside, the sweetness level would fluctuate & the taste profile of common crude Stevia Extract won’t be identical. 

Glycosylated Stevia

Rebaudioside-A is recognized to posses the best taste hence the pursuit of manufacturers today to produce Rebaudioside-A of high purity. Whilst so, Steviol Glycosides can be processed with enzyme to “mask” the aftertaste. The result is a cheaper Stevia compound than High Purity Rebaudioside-A, which requires more processing effort & cost to achieve a high purity level. In some cases, Enzymatically Treated Stevia or Glycosylated Stevia are known to taste better than Rebaudioside-A! This ability remains a trade secret amongst processors to produce the best tasting Stevia.

To determine a good quality Stevia – meaning one that taste good, it’s insufficient & incorrect by just referring to its purity level. Most Stevia that’s available is a combination of Glycosides & as described above, has its own taste character & impossible to maintain a fixed ratio/balance between each glycoside compound in each batch produced. Therefore the best method is to try & taste the Stevia itself!

Where there right quality of Stevia is available, their applications are endless - in any Food & Beverage that uses Sugar or Artificial Sweeteners. It has been used in preparations of Flavored Beverages, Confectionery, Instant Premix Powders, Soya Sauces, Table-Top Sweeteners, Seasonings, Meat Jerky, Cordials, Collagen Supplements, Energy Drink, Health Supplements etc.

In short, Stevia can be used for:-

1. New Product Development
2. Partial or Complete Sugar Replacement
3. Complete replacement of Artificial Sweeteners

For more examples of its uses, please visit our Applications page where a suggested usage guide & recipe/formulas are available to assist you.
Besides Food & Beverage application, Stevia is also used in Animal Feed (as palatant) & Toiletry products like toothpaste or mouthwash.

Functional & Characteristic Properties of Stevia