Most people reading this have probably heard of using stevia as a sweetener. But where does it come from, what are the benefits, and how can we use it? Stevia is a native plant of South America with a high concentration of various glycosides that give the leaf its sweetness. Stevia has zero calories, making it great for weight loss. It also has no effect on blood glucose levels, making it a safe sweetener for people with diabetes. Stevia extract has about 200 times the sweetness of cane sugar, so only a small amount is needed to sweeten a drink. Some sweetener companies add ingredients to stevia extract packets, such as dextrose, which is not advisable for people looking to eliminate sugar and simple carbohydrates. If you are looking for a more natural stevia, however, our natural herb stevia leaf may be your answer.

We have raw, dried, organic stevia leaves available for use as a sweetener in various ways. Often, we advise that people add the leaves to their tea as it’s steeping. This not only provides a natural sweetness but also eliminates the additives frequently found in stevia packets. These leaves are also far less processed than stevia extract or stevia-based sweeteners.

Another method is to grind the leaves into a fine powder in a high-speed blender and add it to your tea. Stevia can also be used in many other drinks and dishes.  Try it in your next smoothie for a FAR LESS glycemic index than honey or agave syrup.  Use it in your cole slaw or to sweeten virtually any other recipe. With the current awareness that processed sugar is “the devil,” we can be thankful there is a natural solution!  STEVIA HERB!