Replied By Chu (Edmond, OK) on 09/24/2008
did you use the white stevia powder or the green ground up powder? i'm hopeing you used the white refined kind because, i want to try the green ground up powdered leavesReplied By Nicole (Portland, OR) on 07/23/2009
Please be aware that the only Stevia that is natural and pure is the green leaf Stevia which is also found as a green powder. This looks basically like dried basil leaf or some other green herb. If you are using liquid extracts or white powder or anything refined, processed, possibly synthesized or with additives, the health benefits and safety factor of that is anyone's guess. We should beware of mass-marketed Stevia like that found in Coca Cola (in other countries) as well, as something beautiful and healthy like pure Stevia and health products like vitamins can still be corrupted (and are by many 'well-appearing' companies). Stevia in it's pure form is sweet and has an 'earthy' taste but it works wonderfully in teas and other things. I recommend mixing it with other flavors such as Carob, Dates, Cinnamon, Berries/Fruits, etc. in raw desserts. It is 'ok' for baking, but in my opinion Honey is a better choice for that. I went off all sugars (except for fruits) for almost a year, solely using herbal Stevia, and on a raw diet...and I learned to use it to my satisfaction and good health.
I just feel that Stevia gets a bad name or may get a bad name because people many people aren't aware that they aren't using the true form of this wonderful plant. I hope that this will clarify that there are major differences between the pure, herbal form of Stevia and the 'Refined' extracts, whether liquid or powder.
Replied By Doddie (Lawrenceville, Georgia, Usa) on 08/24/2011
@Nicole from Portland, you are right. Twice I bought the white Stevia. One from the health food store and one from a grocery market. Both had an after taste like poison! I was at a food co-op, they had a coffee substitute and the greenish brown stevia powder to sample and it was delicious! I read ingredients on the back of the store bought brand, the main ingredient is maltodextrin and (stevia extract) rebiana so the finished product is not stevia.. This stuff is just as bad as other artificial sweeteners (look it up). Read the labels and know what your are buying, the junk is hidden in small print!Replied By Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 08/24/2011
Here in France they now sell a few cookery books using stevia in plant form which is quite weird as I have never seen the plant being sold. I should check in the health food store though.... Maybe they have it and I never saw it. I have just thrown away the white powdered version I sometimes used in my tea as I don't use it anymore anyway. I couldn't read the contents anymore as they faded away but it seemed like it contained 95% stevia, no idea what the rest may have been. I bought it in the health food store. First I had a liquid plastic bit where the drops came out went lose once and all the liquid fell in my tea. I got used to not using anything in my tea and it is ok.Replied By Sweetpea (Fairfield, Il.) on 12/08/2021
Could be if fillers or additives are added.. I have never read about any dangers or problems with organic stevia. I use it all the time. Very safe. But watch what you buy, read the label.....