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What is Stevia (pronounce “stěvēa”) ? |
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Among the many plants of the Compositae family, the Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni is the only one that produces intensively sweet tasting active substances called "steviosides".
The Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni is a perennial plant that can reach 4 ft tall and is native of the highlands of central southeast South America covering portions of Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.
For centuries the Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni has been used by the local natives and first settlers of the area, as a traditional medicine for diabetics and also as a source of sweetener for their drinks and teas.
Stevia Production around the World
The stevia plant currently is commercially cultivated primarily in Brazil, Paraguay, Japan and China. China is by far the biggest crude and refined extract exporter to the US market.
The extract with less than 95% concentration of the sweet substances of the leaves ( they are referred to as "crude extracts) might have a bitter aftertaste because of the non-sweet particles mixed with the powder.
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Frequently Asked Questions 