This article provides an overview of stevia, what it tastes like, its availability, alternative names, and of course what other ingredients make stevia substitutes.
What is Stevia?
Stevia is a natural sweetener and sugar substitute from the leaves of the plant species Stevia rebaudiana, which is native to Brazil and Paraguay.
The active compounds have around 50-300 times the sweetness of sugar which has a much slower onset and longer duration. Stevia also contains zero calories which makes it the ideal alternative to sugar.
What does Stevia taste like?
Stevia can be described as having a sweet but bitter taste, which is almost licorice-like, while others describe it as tasting like menthol.
Is Stevia readily available in Supermarkets?
Stevia should be readily available in supermarkets, often found with other sugar alternatives in the baked goods or sugar aisle.
What are some alternative names for Stevia?
Stevia may be referred to as a sweetener or the trade name it is sold under, for example, Truvia, PureVia, Whole Earth Sweetener, or SweetLeaf.
What is a good substitute for Stevia in recipes?
Luckily, there are a number of great substitutes for stevia. These include:
- Stevia can be easily substituted for other sweeteners such as
- Splenda
- Sucralose
- Aspartame
- You could also substitute for
- Maple Syrup
- Honey
- Regular sugar, but of course, it would not be sugar-free!