Today It’s All About Stevia the Plant

The Herb Diva

Stevia plant (Photo – George Patton)

We are all familiar with the little packets of the sweetener Stevia or the liquid version found in grocery stores.

By Constanze Bonelli

But I want to talk about the actual plant Stevia. It is a shrub like plant in the sunflower family native to North and South America. Due to its popularity as an alternative sweetener it is now grown all over the world. You can find it at your local garden center, as I did.

Stevia’s health benefits have been thoroughly researched in the last two decades. It is a good sugar substitute because it does not spike your blood sugar. Therefore, it can be safely used by diabetics and it is aiding in weight loss.  Stevia is 200 to 300 times sweeter than refined sugar!

Naturally, I have my own Stevia plant growing in a pot outside and use the fresh leaves daily in my morning smoothie. Since the days have been getting cooler I also enjoy it in my herbal tea. For that I collect about 5 fresh leaves and combine with about 10 fresh leaves of mint, muddle them with a mortar, and steep both in hot water for about ten minutes. This makes a delightful, naturally sweetened mint tea.

To your health!