SteviaPlus ?

[killerbombshell]

I recently got a new low-carb cook book and the author raves about how good SteviaPlus is. She often uses it in conjunction with Splenda, I suppose to get a more "well rounded" sweetness. Either way, I've literally never heard of it before, and buying more than one low-carb sweetener can get a little expensive so I'm not sure what to do.

Does anyone have any experiences with it or have any recommendations?

[slimndown]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

Stevia is great! It is actually plant fiber that is extremely sweet so a little goes a long way. It doesn't have any weird flavors like saccharin. You should be able to find it in your natural foods section or at an organic store.

[Desertthorn]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

I know that Fred Meyer sells it in our area, probably all health food stores do also. It ain't cheap but it is natural product and probably a lot healtier than the man made sweetners. Like slimdown said, a little goes a long, long way so watch your measurements carefully.

[sadie147]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

It's the main sweetener I use. You do have to be careful with the amounts though..I've ruined many cups of coffee by adding too much!

I buy a 28g bottle of it that costs $11.99 canadian, and that usually lasts me at least 2 months. I use it in my coffee every day and for my baking. So though it's alot to put out at first, it last a long time. If you can find a very small container first, i'd recommend that. Also, keep in mind it takes a little getting used too. it does taste different than artificial sweeteners.

It's wonderful for baking with when mixed with splenda or sodium cyclamate. They really compliment each other. I usually measure my taste, adding a little bit at a time..due to it's sweetness.

Here's some good info on it from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia

For centuries, the Guarani Native Americans of Paraguay and Brazil used Stevia species, primarily S. rebaudiana which they called ka'a he'ê ("sweet herb"), as a sweetener in yerba mate and medicinal teas for treating such conditions as obesity, high blood pressure, and heartburn. It has recently seen greater attention with the rise in demand for low-carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternatives, and is widely used as a sweetener in Japan, and is available in the US and Canada as a health food supplement.

In 1931, French chemists isolated the glycosides that give stevia its sweet taste. These extracts were named steviosides and rebaudiosides. These compounds are 250–300 times sweeter than sucrose (ordinary table sugar). Stevia's sweet taste has a slower onset and longer duration than sugar's, and especially at high concentration, it has bitter and liquorice-like off-tastes. Stevia does not significantly alter blood glucose, and so can be safely consumed by diabetics.

In the early 1970s, the Japanese began cultivating stevia as an alternative to artificial sweeteners such as cyclamate and saccharin, suspected carcinogens. The plant's leaves, the aqueous extract of the leaves, and purified steviosides are used as sweeteners. Stevia sweeteners have been produced commercially in Japan since 1977 and are widely used in food products, soft drinks, and for table use. Japan currently consumes more stevia than any other country; there, stevia accounts for 40% of the sweetener market.

Today, stevia is cultivated and used in food elsewhere in east Asia, including in China (since 1984), Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia, it can also be found in Saint Kitts and Nevis, in part of South America (Brazil, Paraguay), and Uruguay and in Ina is the world's largest exporter of the stevia extract, stevioside

[not2late]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

Be aware, for some people stevia has a nasty herby bitter aftertaste. For other people it doesn't. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who can taste the nasty-herby-bitter aftertaste so I don't use stevia---at all---because it's ruined more things for me than it's worth. Even with the "better tasting" brands, I can still detect the aftertaste. And it's not a psychological thing either because someone gave me a coffee and I still tasted that rank after-taste in that.

[killerbombshell]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

Thanks for the info, guys. I'll have to see if I can find it when I get back home. It seems like worth my while to try to scout out.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

They used to give out free samples on their website. I'll check and see if they still are.

[scott123]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

I'm not much of a stevia fan either, but of the brands of stevia out there, steviaplus is definitely one of the best.

As far as the act of buying more than one low-carb sweetener being expensive... Initially there is an outlay, but in the long term, you save a lot of money by using multiple sweeteners. It's not just about a 'rounder' improved quality of sweetness. By combining, you get a synergistic boost that allows you to use less sweetener overall. Stevia is wicked expensive so you'll only see this cost effectiveness by using a little bit with the splenda, but if you go with cheaper sweeteners (just about everything else) the savings can be pretty dramatic. Not only do you save a bundle, but the quality of sweetness is a hundred times better than using splenda alone.

If you're open to the idea of a second sweetener, I'd save your money and invest in some erythritol and/or some ace k. Both of those are a fraction of the cost of stevia and taste considerably better when used in the right proportion with splenda. If natural/safe concerns you, erythritol is natural/plant derived and has a longer history of safe use.

[slimndown]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

A little side note about stevia and health, when I originally did my research it did say that it has been linked to some health risks in men having to do with the nether regions but the risks so far are as about as remote as any risks with saccharin. Just make sure you plug it into a search engine and do a little research for your own peace of mind.

[killerbombshell]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

Thanks for the info, Scott. In addition to cost, I'm also concerned about availability. I'm still shaky about ordering stuff on the internet, can you buy erythritol in stores?

But, I was actually able to get my hands on some SteviaPlus. Haven't used it yet, but yes, it's quite pricey--I think $6 for a box of 100 packets. I'm going to give it a go on a pancake recipe next week.

[allierw26]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

Stevia has a strange taste to me, too. Glad I'm not the only one. I didn't like the packets, so I tried the liquid. The same taste for both!

[not2late]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

Killer, try out your stevia on something first to see if you like it. It would be a horrible waste of effort and ingredients if the pancakes are the first thing you try it in and you are among the folks who can detect that nasty-herby-bitter stevia aftertaste.

[patchesintexas]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

Personally I can too taste the bitterness if used by itself, however if I use a little bit of stevia in a recipe I can use far less splenda and it get sweeter, so I keep a little container of stevia around.
of course since induction I use far less sweetners anyway.
So it's a good thing

[scott123]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

Killer, try out your stevia on something first to see if you like it. It would be a horrible waste of effort and ingredients if the pancakes are the first thing you try it in and you are among the folks who can detect that nasty-herby-bitter stevia aftertaste.

Yes, definitely taste it. In water, by itself. Add a pinch to a cup of water, taste. Repeat until the bitterness becomes detectable. That will give you a good idea of how much you can use in baking.

[scott123]

Re: SteviaPlus ?

I'm still shaky about ordering stuff on the internet, can you buy erythritol in stores?

Out of the people I've met who use erythritol (in the hundreds) only one bought it locally (in Delaware). There's a chance you might find it, but I don't think it's very likely.

I can understand your reluctance to purchase items online. The internet can be a little daunting. There are a handful of very respectable low carb companies that have a long track record of satisfied customers. I can vouch for at least two and I'm sure that other members of this forum can vouch for them as well. These are good honest companies.