Stevia - (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni)

Presentation: Bulk dried leaves
Quantity available: 200MT/Year
Part Used: Leaves

Peruvian Stevia has a high content of Rebaudioside A compared to Stevia grown in other countries. Peru's Stevia yields 10%+ of Rebaudioside A, while in other countries the average percentage is 2% to 5%. La Molina Agriculture University Stevioside Analysis with 10.17% Rebaudioside A

Overview:

Stevia is a zero calorie sweetener. It is available in raw form, and you can find it in food and beverages. With large numbers of people looking to lower their caloric consumption  and at the same time focus on eating healthy, real food and limiting chemicals and additives, stevia has become a popular sugar substitute. A native plant to Central and South America, stevia is considered a natural sweetener.

Description:

The size of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni's plantation is situated near 60 in 80 cms with maturity. We often find it to the wild state by grouping from 2 to 3 plantations.

The trunk or the main stalk, the secondary branches or the ramifications, and leaves are covered with a fine white down.
The trunk produces multiple lateral ramifications what makes it a rather dense plant in foliage. The main stalk is rather knotty and sometimes takes unexpected forms.

Part Used:

The part of Stevia plant used is the leave. Different components are extracted from the dried leaves of Stevia, all with sweetening properties.  Of those sweetening components, Stevioside and Rebaudioside A are the most important ones. The content and proportion of these active components deviates depending on the variety of the plant, phase development, growing period, etc.

Stevia Plantation

Uses and Properties:

Steavia leaves have been used for its flavor by indigenous people since before the Spaniards arrived to America.  They used the leaves to sweeten their foods and medicines or chew it to taste it sweet flavor.

Currently, it is being marketed in different presentations, some of which are: mate tea formulas which avoids the use of sugar in infusions. Extracts from steviosides which is recommended for diabetics.  Leaves are 20 to 30 times sweeter than sugar, and Stevioside is 300 sweeter, and Rebaudioside A 450 times sweeter. It prevents dental caries, and gingiva pathogens. It is soluble in hot and cold water, and resistant to high temperatures. It has no calories, it does not raise blood glucose. Useful to sweeten coffee, tea, mate, fruit juices, sodas, sodas, sweets, dental paste, ice cream, chewing gum, etc. It does not crystallize or becomes caramel (not useful for candies or meringues). It is used as an antacid, and digestive.

Stevia Bud thru microscope

Advantages:

It is a 100% natural product. The steviosides contain no calories. Leaves are generally used in its natural state, and used only in minimal quantities. The plant has no toxins. Both leaves and steviosides may be cooked, and it is stable even at 200C. It does not ferment.

Who uses it:

 On table products: All products to sweeten cold or hot drinks like sodas, power drinks or coffee, teas, chocolate, juices among others. In pastry: marmalade, juice, granola, gelatin, cookies, and in chewing gum. In pharmaceutical and beauty products like lipstick, dental paste, syrups.