Stevia - Natural Sweetener Stevia is a naturally occurring sweetener from plants in the sunflower family. Leaves of stevia plant are used to extract its sweetening effect. It has a slower onset and longer duration of taste than sugar. It is 250-300 times sweeter than sugar and has been used for several years in a number of countries as sweeteners for a range of food products. Applications: 1. Mixed with other sweeteners Enhances the taste and pleasantness when used with other sweeteners such as sucrose, glucose or fructose. It is suitable in replacing 40-60% of sucrose used in food products thereby reducing the production cost. 2. Biscuits and CookiesStevia can preserve the crispiness and crunchiness of cookies and biscuits when use in place of sugar. 3. Preserved Food It’s large molecular weight makes it less likely to be absorbed into preserved or canned food. This helps to retain the original taste and freshness of the food. It also prevents the stickiness and fermentation normally caused by sucrose. 4. Chewing Gum Provides a long and lingering sweetness, great for the production of sugarless gums. Benefits of Stevia: Natural No calories Similar taste profile to sugar Ideal for zero or low calorie products Reduced bitterness in most formulations More rounded sweetness peak Low glycemic load, safe for diabetics High solubility, ideal for diverse food applications
