BakeSpace.com Member Forums

GillianSB · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 6:37 am Post subject: Growing Stevia?

I recently bought herbs (Basil & Parsley mostly). I also picked up Lavender and Stevia to sweeten it up Laughing

. I checked the Herb chart posted in this forum and the paragraph on Lavender was very helpful. However, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the Stevia?

What is the best way to use it and care for it?

Thank you!
_________________

pattit · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 6:39 am Post subject:

Is this of any help?

http://www.stevia.com/SteviaArticle.asp?ID=8077
_________________
Patti
http://bakespace.com/?Pattit

http://photostosharewithbakespace.shutterfly.com/pictures

love2cookmb · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 6:42 am Post subject:

I have never heard of Stevia before. Is it an herb?
_________________
MICHELE

Join my Willow House Facebook Page! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Willow-House-with-Michele/126721394009070?ref=ts

http://myitaliangrandmother.blogspot.com/

http://bakespace.com/?love2cookmb

ddpie · Elite BakeSpacer Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 8618

I haven't grown it yet, but I've been researching it. I only know a few things, but looks like we're in the same zone, so it might be helpful.

Stevia (sweet leaf or sweetleaf) is grown as an annual in colder climates or harsh winters (like us LOL), perinnial in hot warmer climates, but the thing that I've found is that unlike other herbs that like hot, dry, well drained soil, Stevia likes moist, compost, loamy rich soil. Plant in a sunny location. It should be kept moist by watering frequently, but at the same time have really good drainage. This is one of my deterents, because, I have limited space in my veggie bed (which is ideal) and my herb bed is the opposite of what it likes. So I have no idea right now where to put it! Of course, now that you brought it up.....hahahahhaaha

Anywho, you can use the leaves straight off of the plant as sweetners in teas, coffees etc. I think you can make an extract (kinda like a simple syrup) by simply boiling in water (not sure of the exact procedure, going from memory here) Like all herbs, pinch the flowers off as they bloom so that the flavors are concentrated in the leaves. Harvest early in the morning.

Hope that helps somewhat!

Michelle- to answer your question, it's used as a sweetner (like a natural artifical sweetner hahahahahah) seriously tho, doesn't affect the blood sugar levels like glucose.

ImStuffed · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 8:04 am Post subject:

well...guess it's true...you learn something new every day. I have never heard of Stevia either
_________________
Danielle
"Sometimes your knight in shining armor is just a re-tard in tin foil"

My Recipes: http://bakespace.com/?imstuffed
My Food Blog: http://peacefulcooking.blogspot.com/
My Fun Blog: http://letsridethebus.blogspot.com/
My Twitter: http://twitter.com/imstuffed

CulinaryAlchemist · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 8:16 am Post subject:

Back in 2003 it was will being sold as a "Dietary Supplement" in health food stores, because of a lobby campaign by the NutraSweet corporation... It couldn't be labeled as an actual "sweetner" I don't know if this has changed recently or not.

It does have a slight aftertaste, at least to me... I assume it's because it it SO much sweeter than table sugar... like 100 times or something crazy like that. Shocked

I have never tried to grow it though...

If I remember correctly, there was a brand at one point called "Stevita" that didn't have the aftertaste... It was a liquid extract, but there are powders too... "the GREEN packet" Laughing

That is all I know about it...
_________________
~ Shane

http://bakespace.com/?culinaryalchemist
http://www.twitter.com/CulinaryAlchemy

ddpie · Elite BakeSpacer Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 8618

Shane, have you tasted the actual plant? or just the by-products? Just curious about the after taste thing. I've never tasted it, so that was also one of the reasons I haven't bothered planting it yet.

I have to say, it' appealing tho (if there's no after taste in the leaves) I was thinking specifically for my teas and coffee, ya know?

CulinaryAlchemist · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 8:39 am Post subject:

I have never tasted the actual leaves themselves... Only extracts, and freeze dried extracts (the powders).... There was a product at one point that was nothing but ground leaves.... but I never tried that one
_________________
~ Shane

http://bakespace.com/?culinaryalchemist
http://www.twitter.com/CulinaryAlchemy

ddpie · Elite BakeSpacer Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 8618

Linda_t · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 10:31 am Post subject:

Hello there. I have grown Stevia up here in a pot in the house. The leaves are indeed sweet, but one thing about planting seeds, the sweetness can vary from plant to plant. It is fairly easy to grow and you can buy seeds from some seed catalogs. I forgot which one I got it from as it was a few years ago when I planted it. I have tasted the leaves and they are sweet. You could grind them up or like someone said boil the leaves up to make a syrup. I have not done this.

Good luck
Linda T.