The Stevia Herb Sweetener
I bought this stevia plant from Cavite State University. According to gardener, it is sweet and can be used in coffee, tea, and even juices. In other words, it is a sugar substitute. Maybe a healthier sugar substitute because it is a herb. I tasted a few green leaves. The flavor is sweet, bitter and grassy. The same goes thru for dried leaves.
I bought two potted plant for 200 pesos. It was a good deal considering the price of white sugar continue to rise. Imagine having a sugar plant in your garden. You don’t need to buy sugar for your daily needs. Plus, it is natural and healthy.
I allowed the plant to grow for three months before the actual testing. It is natural so I want to try it in its natural form. I got a mug of hot water, put a half teaspoon of coffee, put some fresh leaves and allowed it to stand for few minutes. Then I tried the dried leaf version. The results were not good. The bitterness and grassiness of leaves just added up to my coffee. The taste and smell disgusted me.
Wikipedia said, rebaudioside A has the least bitterness of all the sweet compounds in the stevia plant. To produce rebaudioside A commercially, stevia plants are dried and subjected to a water extraction process. This crude extract contains about 50% rebaudioside A and is refined using ethanol, methanol, crystallization and separation technologies to separate the various glycoside molecules in the extract. This allows the manufacturer to isolate pure rebaudioside A.
In order to use stevia, it must undergo chemical extraction process. What is the difference between stevia and white sugar? Is it a better sugar alternative?
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updates
I have an article regarding low-carb sugar for diabetics. Stevia was included, click in to see its health benefits.
- Low Carb Natural Sugars for Diabetics
- Why Do We Hate Using Brown Sugar?
- Great Taste Trio 3-in-1 Coffee Mix: White Coffee
- Sugar is Not a Necessity!
- How to Make Coconut Sugar
- How to Make Coconut Honey
- Production of Virgin Coconut Oil and Flour
- Are you Getting The Real Brown Sugar?
- How to Make Coconut Lambanog – Vodka
- How to Add Flavors to Brewed Coffee
Quite interesting post! At first, when I read I got excited by having sugar plant in my garden.But, the bitter taste does not allow me to use this in my tea/coffee.
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If you have no time to plant, harvest and fool around with the right mixture of stevia plant to use, try stevia in sachets.
Sweeter than sugar – with zero sugar, calories, fat, sodium, carbohydrates, cholesterol, and glycemic index, not chemically made, safe for diabetics, safe for cooking/baking, doesn’t promote tooth decay and loaded with nutrients – Stevia is now locally and organically grown!
• P2.50 per 1 gram sachet. 50 sachets minimum per order (P125.00).
• P1,400.00 per 1 kilo pack. You’ll need a scale for this, they aren’t in sachets. Ideal for bakers. Not available in groceries.
Available in BF Parañaque.
steviaphilippines@gmail.com
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Stevia sachet is available at Nutriwell International maker of Oleia Oil, Soft Gel,(for pain management),Gymnema Gold & Silver (for Glucose Management)as well as Weight Management and Anti-Oxidant/Anti-Inflamatory. I invite you to come to our Ofc at Jolibee Plaza, Ortigas Center for orientation…. Pls contact me at 0929-6686366 for appt.
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