Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni (commonly called stevia) is a member of the Chrysanthemum plant family.
Stevia is a natural herbal sweetener with no calories and no carbohydrates. Called “Ka’a He’e” (“Sweet Herb”) in Guarani, the indigenous language of Paraguay and parts of Brazil, the stevia leaf has been used as a sweetener for hundreds of years.
The sweetness found in stevia can be attributed to two components: Stevioside and Rebaudioside (Reb A). These natural sweeteners are more than 200 times sweeter than sugar.
Safe for diabetics and people watching their sugar intake, stevia has grown in popularity as a sweetener for coffees and teas.