Stevia 100% Natural Sweetener!

STEVIA

This is an herb that is sweeter than sugar with ZERO calories! Native to Paraguay, this herb has been used since ancient times and coveted by royalty. It has been a real struggle with the FDA in the United States to recognize Stevia as a natural sweetener but we have won the fight at last! It is available in supermarkets in the sweetener section or you can join the ranks like me and grow your own during the warm summer months to supplement your supplies. Victory is SWEET!

The stevia plant is non toxic but has been found to have insect repelling tendencies. Aphids and other bugs may find it “too sweet” for their liking and grasshoppers that devour whole crop fields have avoided stevia fields completely.

Planting Guide:

Stevia is hard to cultivate from seed. If you have a resource available for starter plants, this is the easiest and fastest way to get started. Tender young stevia plants are especially sensitive to cold temperatures. It is important that you wait until the danger of frost is past and soil temperatures are in the high 50s before transplanting them outside.

Transplant your starters in rows 20 to 24 inches apart, leaving about 18 inches between plants. Mature plants should average around 30 inches in height and about 18 to 24 inches in width.

They like rich, loamy soil and have shallow roots so good composted ground makes for the best planting conditions. Frequent light watering and low nitrogen fertilizers coupled with additional composting around each plant will encourage strong growth.

Harvesting the Goodness:

Harvest as late as possible, since cooler temperatures and shorter days can intensify the sweetness of the plants. Covering the plants during an early frost can give you the benefit of another few weeks' growth and more sweetness.
When harvesting your stevia, the easiest technique is to cut the branches off with pruning shears before stripping the leaves. You might also want to clip off the tips of the stems and add them to your harvest, as they can contain as much stevioside as do the leaves.
If you live in a warmer climate, less prone to frosts, your plants may be able to survive the winter outside. Do not cut the branches too short (leaving about 4-5 inches of stem at the base during pruning). Leaving the plants outside year-round expect your second year harvest to be the most successful. Consider replacing year-round outdoor plants every three years to keep productivity at a maximum.

Final Step:

Once you have picked all your leaves, they need drying. You can accomplish this on a screen, net, or any breathable medium. You will need about 12 hours of constant, warm sunlight if you want to dry it outside. Usually longer than 12 hours will start to lower the stevioside content so quick dry is the word. A food dehydrator is perfect or if you are using a wood stove… dry warm heat will work magic in no time.
Crushing the dried leaves will release stevia's sweetening power. This can be done either by hand or in a grinder or with a blender for herbs. You can now use your stevia to sweeten anything you would normally use sugar for but only a minute amount is required to equal the taste!

Keep your stevia dry and enclosed in an airtight container. Enjoy this all natural sweetener with ZERO calories!