Stevia is an incredibly sweet herb, obtained by a
natural selective breeding process of the sweetest Stevia parent plants. The
sweetener, stevioside, extracted from the plants, is 300 times sweeter than
sugar. The fresh leaves have a nice liquorice taste. What makes the Stevia
plant so special is that it can be used to replace sugar (sucrose). Many
different uses of Stevia are already well-known: as table sugar, in soft
drinks, pastry, pickles, tobacco products, candy, jam, yoghurt, chewing gum,
sorbets... The dried leaves of Stevia are about 40 times sweeter than sugar.
The documented properties of Stevia are antibacterial, anti fungal,
anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-yeast, cardiotonic,
diuretic, hypoglycemic and hence a boon to diabetic people, hypotensive,
tonic, and vasodilator. Indeed, the leaves contain diterpene glucosides with
a sweet taste but which are not metabolised and contain no calories. The
biggest part of the sweet glucosides consists of the stevioside molecule.
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (Bertoni) is a perennial herbaceous plant and is
part of the Asteraceae family. This family includes well-known plants such
as dandelion, sunflower and chicory. The history of the culture of Stevia
mainly stems from Paraguay and Brazil. Originally Stevia only grew in the
northern regions of South America but its cultivation has become popular
worldwide. . The plant has been known for centuries by the native
Guaranay-Indians for the sweet taste of its leaves. They use it, amongst
other things, to make "mate" herbal tea. Stevia is often referred
to as the "sweetest plant of the world".
Jeevan Herbs & Agro Farm is one of the pioneer cultivators of Stevia in
the country and is dedicated to high quality, organic cultivation of Stevia
along with other medicinal plants.
Its leaves are about 5 cm long and 2 cm wide and are planted crosswise,
facing each other. In the wild, the height of the plant varies from 40 to 80
cm but when cultivated, the Stevia can become 1 metre high. Stevia can be
grown on relatively poor soil. The plants can be used for commercial
production for 6 years, during which five times a year a harvest takes place
of the part of the plant that is above the ground. The roots remain in place
and so the plant regenerates again. Plants, which are 1 metre high, have a
dry weight of 70 g on average. The dry weight of the leaves can vary from 15
to 35 g per plant.
A healthy Stevia Plant at Jeevan
Herbs at flowering stage
Ready Stevia Plants in Jhaf
Nursery |
The principal advantages of Stevia are the
following:
- It is a completely natural non-synthetic product; o Stevioside
(the sweetener) contains absolutely no calories;
- The leaves can be used in their natural state;
- Thanks to its enormous sweetening power, only small quantities
need to be used;
- The plant is non-toxic;
- The leaves as well as the pure stevioside extract can be cooked;
- No aftertaste or bitterness;
- Stable when heated up to 200 degrees;
- Non fermentative;
- Flavour enhancing;
- Clinically tested and frequently used by humans without negative
effect;
- Ideal, non-addictive sweetener for children.
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