Stevia
 

I know it is a natural sweetener, and have bought product on grocery shelf. This year, as I was buying my herb garden seeds/plants-- parsley, basil Rosemary, etc.....I came across a stevia plant..so I bought it. I have tried looking up on net info, but seems rather vague.....can I drop a few leaves into my sun tea- made in fridge, like mint leaves.....anyone know how to use live plant......

Check out Mtn. Rose Herbs blog and BonniePlants.com. Several times a year I order from Mtn. Rose Herbs, not familiar with Bonnie Plants. You can sign up for emails from Mtn. Rose. I especially like the ones featuring the "how-tos". I often use the Mtn. Rose site to look up specifics on different herbs, such as uses and cautions.

I know it is very strong. You may want to start with smaller amounts and work up to the strength you want to use. I think I would start with half a leaf and if it isn't sweet enough work up to what you like.

I started purchasing the plants a few years ago. This website gave me the best information on growing, processing and using stevia.
http://commonsensehome.com/stevia-gr...own-sweetener/

The leaves have a very strong licorice taste. It's sweet but I found the after taste is worse then artificial. I planted some stevia plants and they were the only plants that thrived that year. And I couldn't stand the taste. LOL

My niece planted some Stevia and couldn't find out why the leaves were disappearing - Seems that the kidlings were picking them and eating the leaves like candy. Good healthy candy. I use Truvia and I don't buy sugar anymore. I like it better than sugar especially on cereal and fresh fruit. And no calories. Yay! Edie

You put sugar on fresh fruit? Why? Is it underripe? I have never heard of doing that.

Don't you put sugar on strawberries when making strawberry shortcake or on sliced peaches, etc.? How about grapefruit? I'm sure she isn't talking about things like bananas or apples.

All the cooks in my family added some sugar to strawberries and peaches for the shortcakes. We used to make a peach glaze for shortcake and ice cream.

Eating fresh fruit is very different then cooking with fresh fruit. Sweetness needs to be added when cooking with fresh fruit. Jam with no sweetness added? Yuk. Even the no sugar added jams use sweetness, mostly reconstituted fruit juice.