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What is Stevia (pronounce “stěvēa”) ?

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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NEWS ALERT

STEVIA EXTRACT APPROVED AS FOOD ADDITIVE BY WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION !!!!! Last week in Geneva, the JECFA ( Joint Expert Committee on food Additives) of the World Health Organization approved the use of steviol/glycosides ( the sweet substances of the stevia leaves) as a safe food additive and assigned a ADI ( accepted daily intake) of 4 mg/kg of body weight. This means that in the future all European Countries will be allowed to use stevia extracts not only as a sweetener but also as flavor enhancer in many food applications. This is a great victory for the consumer and brings a great deal of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment for Steviafarma/Stevita which since its inception in 1988 believed and worked hard to make stevia a safe, healthy and natural food to be enjoyed by millions of consumers around the world. During the last few years many companies, with very little or no experience in the stevia business have indicated their intention to enter in this business. We welcome this interest and the positive awarness that it brings about the benefits of stevia as a natural non-caloric sweetener. Years of experience, and as leaders in the agricultural and extraction phases of the stevia business allow the Stevita brand stevia a deserved ranking as the best in quality and the favorite brand of stevia in the US and world markets.