Stevia is a kind of natural health sweetener and medical auxiliary agent extracted from stevia leaves, a plant of asteraceae.
It is pure white, with good taste, no peculiar smell, stable in property, no susceptibility to moulds, and also easily soluble in water and alcohol. Its sweetness is about 200-450 times as that of sucrose, but calories is about 1/300 times as that of sucrose and the cost is about 30% as that of sucrose.
Function:
It has been used in South and Central America , Japan and many other parts of the world as a sugar substitute and in the treatment of a number of health conditions for centuries. In 2008, FDA (The Food and Drug Administration) approved sweetener derived from the stevia as safe for use in foods and beverages. The steviols glycosides are now used in healthy supplements, foods and beverages, and as sweetening powders and syrups. Unlike other sweeteners, Stevia can be used in baking and cooking and its lesser amount is ample.
