What is Stevia Extract Made From?

How is stevia made and just what is stevia extract made from? It’s important to research the ingredients on labels and to feel comfortable with the list of items on your packaging, including stevia extract for use as a sweetener in your drinks and in your food. The good news is we have the answers to your questions about stevia so you can feel comfortable with your ingredients.

Many people wonder what is stevia extract made from and is it safe? Stevia extract is removed from the stevia plant grown in the South American countries of Brazil and Paraguay. It’s a natural sugar substitute that is more than 100 times sweeter than real sugar. Stevia extract is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in beverages and food. 

We know you have questions and to alleviate any concerns you might have about stevia extract, read on to feel confident about this natural sugar substitute!

What is Stevia?

Stevia is a natural sweetener that is a popular sugar substitute. It’s called Stevia because the natural sweetener is taken and created from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant species, which is native to both the countries of Paraguay and Brazil. 

What is Stevia Extract?

Stevia extract is the substance removed from the Stevia rebaudiana plant species in South America.The extract taken from the Stevia plant to make sweetener is the steviol glycosides. This particular extract creates the sweet taste without the calories that foods and drinks with sugar contain. 

What is Stevia Extract Made From?

Many wonder just what is stevia extract made of? It’s literally taken directly from those stevia plant leaves we mentioned. The extract used to create this popular sweetener can be anywhere from 100 times to 300 times sweeter than pure sugar without containing any calories, carbohydrates or artificial ingredients!

Is Stevia and Stevia Extract the Same?

Stevia is the name of the plant and refers to the entire plant and all of its components. Not all of the components of the stevia plant are sweet though. Whole leaf stevia, which has been known for centuries as a sweetener, contains a licorice-like aftertaste because the leaves are not entirely sweet. Because whole leaf stevia is not totally sweet, the fine-like powder that is created from the dry leaves can have a licorice-like taste.

Stevia extract is a complete sweetness component of the plant that is extracted and used in the United States as a sweetener substitute. Stevia extract is recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an official sweetener for use in beverages and foods. 

Is Stevia Extract the Same as Sugar?

Stevia extract is not the same as sugar. Stevia extract is a sugar substitute that is extracted from the leaves of the South American stevia plant. It’s sweeter than sugar and is approved for use in the United States as a sugar substitute. 

Is Stevia Worse Than Sugar?

Stevia offers sweetness without calories, artificial ingredients and carbs. People searching for a sugar alternative for their diets can use stevia without having to worry about the carbs and pure sugar spikes that can increase blood sugar levels. 

Is Stevia Safe to Use Every Day?

The FDA has approved the use of stevia as an approved sugar substitute. The FDA is required to review all food additives before they can go in the market in this country. 

According to the FDA, the allowable safe intake of stevia extract is 4 milligrams (mg) per kilogram of body weight. This amounts to approximately 12 mg of stevia extract per kilogram of body weight per day. 

Need an easier explanation? In layman’s terms, the FDA estimates that a person that weighs approximately 150 pounds can safely consume up to 10 packets of stevia per day. 

Can Diabetics Take Stevia?

Diabetics can use stevia extract as a sugar alternative to help achieve lower blood sugar levels, while also looking to reduce their calorie intake. Food and beverages that contain stevia instead of sugar are not known to affect blood glucose or insulin levels. 

What is the Healthiest Sugar Substitute?

There are several pure sugar substitutes out there that are better for you than pure sugar. These include: 

• Stevia
• Xylitol
• Coconut sugar
• Maple syrup
• Monk fruit extracts
• Honey

Is Stevia the Same as Aspartame?

Stevia and aspartame are both listed as sugar alternatives but they are not the same. Stevia is natural and is extracted from the stevia plant. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener manufactured from aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Aspartame can also only be used as an artificial sweetener in food only. 

What is the Best Sweetener for Sweet Tea?

As always, many people have personal preferences about what’s the best sweetener for delicious sweet tea. While many will raise their hands for pure white plain sugar, others will vote for brown sugar that gives your sweet tea a rich molasses flavor. 

But what about those looking to make changes in their lives that might include calorie intake reduction and pure sugar alternatives to reduce blood sugar levels? Luckily, there’s a delicious sweet tea alternative product line called Red Rose Tea’s Sweet Temptations. 

Try Red Rose Sweet Temptations Today

Red Rose Sweet Temptations offers delicious herbal teas that are a perfect sweet treat any time of the day or night, without the calories that come along with sugar spikes. That’s because Sweet Temptations offerings are guilt-free treats sweetened with natural stevia extract that you can feel comfortable drinking after reading about this natural sweetener above. 

Try our Red Rose Sweet Temptations Bundle today to try delicious offerings like Blueberry Muffin Tea, Caramel Apple Pie Tea and Lemon Cake Tea. Looking for some more decadent dessert teas? Learn more about our sugar cookie tea and bananas foster tea too! Enjoy the variety of our Sweet Temptations line today and find your favorites to drink when you need something that is guilt-free sweet!