stevia - anyone use it?

P

PamHurley

Cathlete
Hello all!!! I have been doing research on my beloved Splenda, and have come to the conclusion that I really don't want to be using it for my family...do a web search - there's some really questionable stuff about it. Anywhooo, I have heard about stevia and am wondering if anyone here uses it, how does it taste, can you use it for baking....any info you can think of so I can learn more about it. I really appreciate your advice!!! Thanks, Pam :D
 
I am curious about this stuff too. I have a coworker who uses it at home, although I'm not sure for what exactly. He just recommended I try it. I'm not even sure where to get it (I live out in the sticks, so no health food stores nearby). But I've heard it's great stuff. I think you can bake with it and everything, but I'm not sure about the conversion factor from sugar to stevia. I find it interesting that since the FDA has not approved it for use as food, it has to be sold as a dietary supplement (maybe that will help me find it - rather than looking in the sugar aisle, I should look in the supplement aisle?). I really don't know much about it, other than it comes from a plant and it's been used for a very long time as a sweetener. Hope someone else can provide more info, because I'm curious too.
 
Well, in my research on the stuff, I found that the FDA hasn't approved for use as food because of pressure from the sugar and artificial sweetener industries. I can be produced cheaper than the others, therefore if it caught on with the general public, it would be the undoing of many sugar and artificial sweetener companies. That's the general picture I get.
 
>Well, in my research on the stuff, I found that the FDA
>hasn't approved for use as food because of pressure from the
>sugar and artificial sweetener industries.


I wouldn't be at all surprised if this was the case. It's amazing how much influence American agriculturalists/farmers/foodmakers have on FDA decisions.
 
I use stevia and I really like it. I use it to sweeten tea, coffee, oatmeal and things like that, but I don't use it in recipes. Mainly because I can't find it locally and have to order online, and it is expensive. So I still bake with splenda. If it has a taste at all I think it is sort of a licorice taste, but that could be my imagination because it's very subtle. My sister-in-law can't stand it though so I guess the taste comes through more to others.
 
I use stevia. I use a few drops of the liquid in tea or even water. I use the powder (Sweetleaf Stevia Plus, which has inulin fiber as the base) in things that I would sprikle sugar on (oatmeal, smoothies, etc.) I haven't used it for baking, but there are several recipe books out about it.

I don't notice any particular flavor, besides "sweet," but you have to be careful not to use too much (3-4 drops in a cup of tea, for example),or there can be a "too sweet" aftertaste.
 
I really, really like to use stevia powder anywhere that I need some sugar!! Drinks, Cereals, Baking, Cooking, etc.

I do use it in baking. For example, recipes ask for too much sugar anyway, so, I will usually put half(sometimes less) the sugar in that it calls for and the other half I will use stevia. If you bake with only Stevia, it doesn't taste the best IMHO.


1 teaspoon of the pure white stevia powder(with no fillers) will equal 1 cup of sugar. A great way to cut out the calories!

I shouldn't admit it....but I just made 1 gallon of ice cream the other week (boy is it good!!!!) and I only used 1/2 cup of organic sugar and the other sweetner was STEVIA. I could have just used stevia, but I think it alters the taste just a bit.

It works well. You just have to experiment with it sometimes. The taste is different and if you use too much stevia you'll know it. It will actually have a bitter taste.

I'd definitely switch to Stevia and cut out the Splenda.
 
I wish I could find some stevia plants to grow with the rest of my herbs. My friend has some in her garden and gave some for me to try...yum! So if your into gardening, you might want to check somewhere where they sell a vast variety of herbs and this way you will have your own supply.

Charlotte~~
 
I love stevia! I started using it because of concerns about Splenda. From what I've found regarding side effects, there is some concern about fertility, though I think that probably relates back to the artificial sweetner industry trying to keep stevia out of the mainstream market. There is quite a bit of variation among the different brands of stevia-- some can be rather bitter (seems like the Now brand is).

L
 
I think sometimes the bitterness comes when you use too much. Stevia is, what, 300 times sweeter than sugar. A little bit will go a long way (which is why, IMO, ít's hard to use the pure stevia powder: it's too hard to get the small amount you need).

I've seen directions for substituting stevia for sugar, and I think there has to be some modification of moisture content as well in the recipe? If I remember, I'll try to find the substitution info (amounts and any changes that are recommended).

FYI: Stevia has been used in Japan for decades to sweeten "sugar free" items like cola beverages and gum.
 
x( x( x( x( x( ! Every time i find a sugar substitute i like, there's something wrong with it!!! Ok, i'm off to google stevia........

jes
 
hey jdoll - just noticed that you live in Beaumont....used to live in that wonderful armpit myself...just thought I would mention it!!! Pam:D
 
Well, my husband is in the Marine Corps and we move around a lot. I was living in Beaumont (actually Kountze) and he was a recruiter for the Marines when we met and married there. We lived in the best part of town (not!), right by Central High School, if you're familiar with that area. Now we're in Nevada living right near Lake Tahoe. About an hour away is where he works, the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center. They train Marines from all over the U.S. how to do warfare in mountainous conditions. Say hi to old B-town for me!!! Pam
 
I use stevia -- I started using it a couple years ago because I have a sweet tooth and had bit of low blood sugar. So I decided to give up sugar completely, and I've been cooking with stevia ever since. It takes some getting used to, but you can make some wonderful things with it. I recommend the KAL brand -- to me it's the best tasting. And I've found where you can buy the stevia plant. If anyone wants to know where, just email me privately and I'll get you the address. I just ordered two of the plants and some herbs, myself.

Amazing what the FDA allows in our food...when you really start to research...
 
A while ago, I did some research on stevia. If I remember correctly, it is not approved by FDA here or in England and a few other places. Also, there may be some concern with it causing infertility. I have no info. to back this up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top