All About Stevia

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There are so many types of stevia on the market right now. Some brands of stevia extract have a slightly bitter aftertaste. Unfortunately, not all brands of stevia are created equal! 

Getting ready to review of various brands of stevia!

Here are the two stevia brands I use in all my recipes, as of June 2016:

  1. Stevia Select Pure Stevia Powder
  2. Trader Joe’s pure stevia powder (it’s only 1/2 as sweet as stevia select, so you need to use double the amount of Trader Joe’s stevia as the amount listed in my recipes)

The reason I use a powder and not a liquid extract is because the powder is more standardized in sweetness. The liquid extracts all have different conversion factors between brands. Also, the dry powder works better in recipes that don’t have much liquid, like chocolate and cookies. 

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For years, NuNaturals pure stevia powder was my go-to brand because it was a cut above the rest! It was simply the best-tasting stevia extract, with no aftertaste or funky flavors. I featured it in my recipes and cookbook because it was the only brand that my super sensitive taste buds did not find bitter.

Unexpectedly, the NuNaturals company altered their formulation in May of 2013. Sadly, the new NuNaturals stevia is definitely bitter, and markedly less sweet than the old stuff. Late last year, I tried KAL “Natural” pure stevia powder, and enjoyed it so much that it was my next stevia of choice for recipes on this blog. However, the manufacturer changed their stevia formulation shortly after I recommended the product to readers!

To find out why stevia manufacturers were changing their formulations, I researched the issue, and it came to light that new FDA labeling guidelines were at the heart of the matter. For years, stevia had been labeled as a “supplement.” Coca-Cola and Cargill, the manufacturers of Truvia, pushed for their purified form of stevia extract to gain approval as a “food additive.” To add their sweetener to products, the manufacturer needed to get their stevia formulation labeled as a “food additive.”

The change in FDA regulations meant that stevia extracts classified as food additives could be sold on grocery store shelves, making them more profitable to produce. Consequently, some stevia manufacturers changed their product to contain 100% rebaudioside A (“rebiana” or “Reb A”).  Reb A is just one flavor compound of the stevia plant. As a result, stevia products containing solely Reb A can taste more bitter than stevia extracts containing a mixture of steviosides.

How Do You Bake With Stevia?

The powder extract is best for baking, and the liquid extract is ideal for adding to beverages like tea, coffee and smoothies. You will need to use twice the amount of Trader Joe’s stevia in recipes listed on the blog and in the cookbook. My recipes created in 2014 and later list which brand of stevia was tested in them. Remember to let your tongue be your guide when it comes to sweetening your own sugar-free recipes! It’s best to start with too little, then work up to the desired level of sweetness. 

measuring-spoon-set-stevia-pourfect-healthy-spice-tiny-mini-spoons-atkins-diet-indulgences

That tiny spoon with the stevia spilling over the edge is 1/64 of a teaspoon! I use this colorful mini spoon set set by Pourfect to measure out my stevia for coffee and recipes. It’s the only complete set I’ve found with such tiny increments! Just don’t let any of your spoons get caught in the disposal. Can you tell, from looking at the photo, that I already learned that lesson?

 Do you have questions about stevia? Post ’em below! 

22 Comments on All About Stevia

  1. Molly McGuire
    January 1, 2014 at 6:42 pm (9 years ago)

    Lauren, I’ve followed your blog for a long time, and I’m glad to see you address this stevia problem! My husband and I used NuNaturals for years, only to find out about the change this year, which has sent us into a disappointing search for a replacement. We use stevia a LOT– in our coffee and cold drinks every day. KAL seems like it might be cost prohibitive in comparison…. NuNaturals sold their pure stevia in those large containers that lasted forever! I don’t see a date on your post, so I was wondering if you have any further updates or any thoughts to add?

    Reply
    • Lauren Benning
      January 3, 2014 at 8:48 pm (9 years ago)

      Hi, Molly! I’m so glad to hear you’ve been enjoying the recipes on this blog. You are right about the price difference. The cost of KAL is $6/oz compared to the NuNaturals bulk stevia (the 1 lb container), priced at $4/oz. Per your inquiry, I contacted the company re: buying KAL in bulk. I’ll let you know their response!

      Reply
      • Rachel
        January 17, 2014 at 1:46 pm (9 years ago)

        Hi Lauren,
        Love your blog! So disappointed with NuNaturals! Have been looking around at KAL and it would seem from the reviews on Amazon that they’ve also gone bitter. Look forward to hearing if you find another suitable alternative. Hopefully the formulas will become standardised as it gains popularity. Can only think the huge stevia deal Coca Cola did has something to do with the lack of consistency in the stevia brands now.

        Reply
        • Lauren Benning
          February 12, 2014 at 4:12 pm (9 years ago)

          Hi, Rachel! Unfortunately, KAL reformulated their product shortly after I purchased my bottle in late December of 2013! Please check the newly updated stevia recommendation. I researched the situation with Coca Cola, and it looks like you were onto something. There is definitely a connection between changes that the stevia manufacturers made to their products and the approval of Truvia (a Coca-Cola/Cargill product) for sale on grocery store shelves. After a long search, I did find a great tasting stevia product–JAJA Stevioside–that will not be altered to comply with the FDA regulations! I spoke with the owner of the company, and she confirmed that it will continue to be produced using the same water extraction method they have used since the 1990s. It is a mixture of steviosides, and will not be refined to contain 100% Reb A like the stevia extracts sold on grocery store shelves. It is available for purchase on grocery store shelves, but you can order it directly from the company here:
          http://emperorsherbologist.com/stevioside.php

          Reply
          • Rachel
            February 13, 2014 at 2:21 pm (9 years ago)

            Hi Lauren,
            Thank you so much for the reply. I live in the UK and it’s a barren wasteland for good stevia. I’ve contacted the JAJA people and await a reply.
            Keep up the inspirational baking!
            Rachel

    • Kim
      November 3, 2022 at 2:20 am (5 months ago)

      What change has NuNaturals done that you have to change now

      Reply
    • Kim
      November 3, 2022 at 2:29 am (5 months ago)

      I kmow this is an old article. But the only change has done was change their product packaging as well as the name. The formula is still the same and so is the price

      Reply
  2. Jeseta
    February 19, 2014 at 2:38 am (9 years ago)

    If any readers know of a good stevia brand available in New Zealand I’d be very keen to hear about it! Ordering from overseas would be the last option for me as I’m on a bit of a budget.

    Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Sonja Oglesby Hull
    February 26, 2014 at 10:48 pm (9 years ago)

    I am soo disgusted! I bought 3 large bottles of the stuff you picture, the NuNaturals brand, because that’s what you pictured! And now after reading the entire page and googling what you say about stevia, I find you say it is bitter?!!!!!!!
    Woman!
    Sonja O. Hull

    Reply
  4. Michelle Zalenski
    June 23, 2014 at 8:51 pm (9 years ago)

    Hello! I was just wondering if you still are using JAJA Stevioside? I am still having issues with finding stevia brands bitter 🙁 Thought I would give this a try 🙂
    Thanks,
    HMZ

    Reply
  5. MKthomas2
    July 24, 2014 at 1:31 pm (9 years ago)

    I haven’t gone through all the comments…but is there someplace to find a conversion chart to use when baking, etc. I.e. 1 cup sugar = ____ stevia product.

    Reply
  6. gail
    April 16, 2015 at 5:45 am (8 years ago)

    I just read about nunaturals, info.one thing I have learned from dr. atkins,to use many forms of sweetners, so you use less -such as lohan,stevia,xylitol, and erythritol.

    Reply
  7. John Griffin
    March 6, 2016 at 10:22 am (7 years ago)

    Lauren your post confuses me. You state that readers recommended NOW Stevia and JAJA Stevioside as the top two brands and then provided links to where they can be purchased. However, there is no link for the JAJA brand, instead, there is a link for the Trader Joe’s brand. I’m thoroughly confused. Do you now recommend the Trader Joe’s brand above JAJA? Can the Trader Joe’s brand be purchased in bulk like the JAJA? Is the Trader Joe’s brand the same stevia brand you note on another page that must be mixed at a ratio of 2 teaspoons with 1 cup of erythritol? Do you still recommend the JAJA brand? Thanks.

    Reply
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