Stevia~

[Dib's]

The origin of Stevia Rebaudiana is in central Paraguay where it grows near the ponds and streams in wild conditions. Native Paraguayans have been consuming this herb in large quantities for many centuries.
Stevia offers an ideal alternative to other sugar substitutes. Here are a few examples~

Stevia leaves are 20-30 times sweeter than sugar.
Stevia leaves can be dried and stored.
Stevia can be used in raw form.
Stevia is short duration crop. Similarly Stevia can be harvested 3/4 times a year.
Initial cost of establishment is high 40000 plants per Acre and 5. Rs per Plant.
Once planted stevia can be harvested 1-2 times a year for five years . .
One acre of Stevia would produce sweetener equivalent to 36 Acres of Sugar Cane more andthe sweetness in Stevia leaves is healthy and harmless

You may have had Stevia and not known it.
Cargill, the Canadian industrial giant, partnered with Coca-Cola to trademark Truvia™. Truvia is the consumer brand for rebiana sweetener in the United States. PepsiCo and Whole Earth Sweetener Company also have a version called PureVia™. Coke and Pepsi have been building stevia processing plants on plantations in China for years.
What you get after processing Stevia is Rebiana, also known by the name Reb-A. Reb-A is the purified extract responsible for imparting stevia's sweet taste.

Stevia is super easy to grow in your own garden. I picked up a plant at a nursery this year & have to say I enjoyed it in my iced tea and mojitos. Be warned though, it really is super sweet so mash a few leaves to start.

[Chef #928625]

I used to have a small stevia plants and loved to put the leaves in my teas and mate too.For those that have only tried the packets of stevia,the fresh leaves have less of an aftertaste and the sweetness is easier to control,One leaf really can sweeten a whole pot of tea!.Thank you for the post!

[Dib's]

Your welcome-it's a great little plant to have in your garden!