Stevia sweeteners - naturalry-sourced calorie-free and with a wide range of applications

摘要

It Is now a year since, on 11 November 2011, the EU Regulation marking the formal opening of the whole European market to stevia-based sweeteners was enacted.As it continues to make inroads in the sweetener market, it is worth taking another look at where stevia comes from, its capabilities and potential.Stevia-based sweeteners are extracted from the leaves of a shrub, Stevia rebaudiana, which has been used as a source of sweetness for centuries by the indigenous peoples of South America. In commercial production, once the stevia leaves have reached their peak of sweetness, theyre harvested, dried and soaked in water, much like brewing tea.