Stevia is a leaf that is used here in Paraguay to sweeten soft drinks and terere. You can buy it in health food stores in the US as well, but it is not common and is expensive.
Stevia is called ka'a he'e in Guarani. A lot of people here use it regularly and believe it has healing properties. It can be a diuretic and an anti-inflammatory.
Bob uses it every morning in his coffee. I have not developed a taste for it, but its not offensive to me. Its not sugar, but is sweet and is natural. We buy it processed in little yellow bottles but have bought the leaf form at times (its just more fun!). I put it in our iced tea.
Coca cola and Pepsi cola want to start using stevia to sweeten their soft drinks world wide. It is a low calorie sweetner that is natural, rather than artificial. The companies are just waiting for approval from the FDA to use the product.
I send Stevia regularly to my family in the US, especially my daughter. A little tiny bottle lasts her several months for sweetning her coffee and only costs about 50 cents here in Paraguay. A lot cheaper than Splenda and hopefully better for her.
So be looking for stevia from Paraguay in your soda soon! :)
Picture from Bloombberg News
6 responses to this post:
Thanks for stopping by, Brenda! Feel free to post a recipe of your own anytime--I'm sure that my pretzel treats aren't the ones that have the ingredients availble to you. :-)
I buy Stevia powder at walmart all the time is better than splenda!!
I have been using it in my coffee since we got here.
Hi there! Visiting from BPOTW. Love your blog; you're quite the Scribbler! Listen, I'm up for a Pretty Neat blogging award, and I made the final cut. Yup, I'm campaigning for votes...please come by and check it out if you have a chance!
Wow - that's very interesting! My youngest son has PKU and must stay away from Aspartame. Horrible stuff as it is, but it contains phenylalanine, especially toxic for him.
Curious to see how this goes. Thanks for the info.
Em
Ah yes, Stevia. I have heard about it for a long time and researched it quote a bit. I cannot believe it has not been approved as a sweetener yet it's so much healthier than Splenda. But at least it's on the shelves here for people who want to buy it. My in laws buy it and it's been found at Publix here and there.
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