Stevia

[ubercaffeinated]

So at the market the other day I saw a curious item... Stevia in the Raw, made by the purveyors of Sugar in the Raw. So when I came home I did a little reading, and found stevia to be... interesting - and according to research, safe. PepsiCo and CocaCola are marketing their own versions of stevia now, and I'll probably end up picking up a small carton to give it a taste testing. I was wondering what experience you guys have had with it?

 

[interchange]

Doesn't taste very much like sugar. I have tried it and blended it with other things to make the flavor right.

 

[Kaido]

I haven't used Stevia, but I switched most of my sugary-flavoring over to Agave Nectar because it doesn't give me a sugar fade. I use it on waffles and pancakes, in oatmeal, etc.

 

[conorvansmack]

Originally posted by: Kaido
I haven't used Stevia, but I switched most of my sugary-flavoring over to Agave Nectar because it doesn't give me a sugar fade. I use it on waffles and pancakes, in oatmeal, etc.

Doesn't that make everything taste like tequila?

 

[interchange]

Agave is great stuff but too $$$ for me.

 

[presidentender]

Stevia is wonderful in tea. Liquid stevia is powerful stuff: you have to be careful not to use too much. The powdered stuff is more like what you're used to, but still kinda strong, and it doesn't taste like sugar.

 

[Titan]

For the alkaline diet nuts, Stevia is the most alkaline sweetener, with molasses, maple syrup (grade B) and raw honey trailing behind.

I haven't gotten around to trying it at all, I just do without sweeteners.

I would be shocked if Coke started making a drink that used it exclusively as a sweetener. If they did I would try it. They are more likely to use a bit and mix it with say, aspartame.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: interchange
Agave is great stuff but too $$$ for me.

Yah it's some pricey stuff, I feel like I'm pouring dollars on my whole-wheat pancakes in the morning, lol.

 

[Kipper]

OP, not so sure about the "safe" bit. The little research that exists on Stevia is inconclusive - as far as the FDA is concerned, which still regulates it as a dietary supplement (if I'm not mistaken)...which effectively means it is unregulated.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Originally posted by: Kipper
OP, not so sure about the "safe" bit. The little research that exists on Stevia is inconclusive - as far as the FDA is concerned, which still regulates it as a dietary supplement (if I'm not mistaken)...which effectively means it is unregulated.

The regulation on it as a dietary supplement was lifted last year. Not sure exactly when, but it's no longer regulated, which is why we're seeing it in drinks and in "sugar" packs now. I've bought a 50 packet box of stevia in the raw which touts itself to have the taste closest to sugar... and it's not bad. I'm using it in a cup of earl grey and it's acceptable to the palate. Will be trying it in my oatmeal tomorrow.

As far as the inconclusive research... the original studies that prompted the FDA to restrict stevia as a dietary supplement seemed to have been skewed heavily... ie using rats that were extremely old, or using liver enzymes that were way too sensitive, etc. Anyways, I'll keep you guys updated with any adverse effects.