Since writing the post about Stevia side effects, many people contacted me asking for information about organic Stevia seeds, extract and powders. “What are the brand you recommend on?” asked me one of my readers. I’d like to give my honest opinion:
It doesn’t really matter.
As long is it’s a certified organic Stevia leaf and there are no fillers whatsoever, it’s all pretty much the same. Just Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, the famous species grown mainly for sweetening. Stevia is a zero calorie sweetener that is especially popular among diabetes patients who are very sensitive when it comes to high blood sugar levels.
The world is moving fast, and while not being so popular a few years ago – The Stevia plant really made its noise and many people now trust it to be a good substitute for sugar or other harmful artificial sweeteners. Here are some reliable organic options to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth:
Kal Pure Stevia Organic Extract Powder or Liquid
Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Stevia (Sold in Packets)
NOW Foods ‘BetterStevia’ Certified Organic Stevia Liquid or Extract Powder
Now, I never used any of the above Stevia brands, but I’ve heard and read about them from enough people that I feel comfortable recommending them, especially the Kal Pure Extract Powder (link to Amazon), which a lot of people are happy with. If you buy the liquid version, keep in mind that this plant is so concentrated that even a few drops might be way too much.
I actually prefer growing Stevia on my own, and you can easily find organic Stevia seeds through eBay, although I once got ‘defective’ seeds that never showed any result, even though I did everything correctly. Pay close attention to the vendor you’re buying from. The seeds have a short lifespan apparently.
Keep in mind that practically all organic-certified Stevia seeds should practically produce the same taste. Just pay attention to the shipment time (too long can ruin the seeds, as I believe happened in my case) and time since harvested. I think they have a lifetime of three months approximately, if my memory doesn’t betray me. Anyway, if you don’t have the time for that – any of the above recommendations will do just as good.
Bonapetit!
You may wish to note that while the brand may not matter as long as the product is pure organic stevia extract or powder, but one brand in particular which makes “Stevia extract In The Raw” includes maltodextrin as the first ingredient, followed by stevia extract. Just a reminder to encourage everyone to read labels carefully – the ingredients, and not just the front of the packaging. You may not have the same problem with those offering organic products, but it’s still a good practice to double-check.