Stevia: alternative to sugar

Although stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) looks like an average green plant, it is an exciting choice for the herb garden because of the natural, calorie-free sweetness found in its leaves. Appreciated by diabetics and dieters, stevia is a tender perennial that loves the warm sun and dies back in a freeze. 

Stevia's arrival in the international sweeteners market is almost certain to shake up the entire area of sugar replacement, but the big question is whether it will erode volumes of existing high-intensity sweeteners or will settle comfortably alongside them with its broader focus on balanced wellness rather than dieting. In order to answer that question, this report explores the background, current status and future directions for stevia sweeteners.