The stevia plant is a small shrub that has been used as a source of natural, zero-calorie sweetness for hundreds of years. The sweetness can be extracted from the leaves and then further purified to produce a stevia leaf extract that is 95% pure.

Stevia may be used in place of table sugar in your favorite foods and beverages. A pinch of stevia powder is equal to about one teaspoon of table sugar.

Tasty ways to use stevia include:

• in coffee or tea
• in homemade lemonade
• sprinkled on hot or cold cereal
• in a smoothie
• sprinkled on unsweetened yogurt

 Gardening tips

• Plant your stevia so that it has about 18 inches of room to call its own if containers/pots are used. In the loose, loamy, well-drained soil that the plant prefers, it will grow 1 to 3 feet in height, depending on the length of your growing season
• Grow this sun-loving plant in an area that gets plenty of light and has rich, well-drained soil.
• Feed regularly with a water-soluble plant food to promote healthy leaf production.
• Water once the top inch of soil becomes dry, but don’t let the soil become soggy.
• Harvest stevia leaves once they’re large enough to use.

Facts about Stevia

• The natural sweetener tastes 200 to 300 times sweeter than table sugar.
• Stevia can be classified as “zero-calorie,” because the calories per serving are so low.
• It has shown potential health benefits as a healthful sugar alternative for people with diabetes.