What is stevia?

The stevia plant Stevia rebaudiana also called "sweet herb" or "honey herb

Not only is the sweetener produced from the Stevia plant colloquially called Stevia, but also the Stevia plant.

Originally from South America, the plant is also known as honey cabbage (caá-jeé) or sweet cabbage (kaá heé) and has the Latin name Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

In the leaves of the Stevia plant the very sweet ingredients are formed, which are called steviolglycosides, steviosides and rebaudioside A. Rebaudioside A in particular has enormous sweetening power and is used as a calorie-free sweetener in food and beverages.

For centuries, the stevia plant has been used in its natural home South America not only for sweetening but also as a remedy. Consumers in Japan have been using the sugar substitute Stevia since 1971 and avoid artificial sweeteners in their health-conscious diets.

Since then, Stevia has been the healthy, calorie-free sugar substitute in Japanese cuisine, as well as in teahouses and restaurants, and has become an integral part of Japanese culture.

More and more consumers around the world are using Stevia to reduce their sugar consumption and to eat healthier food.