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• A genus of plant with around one hundred and fifty species, Stevia is native to Central and South America's tropical and subtropical areas.

  Its increasing use as a sugar substitute, the species, Stevia rebaudiana, is grown for its sweet leaves. However, stevia is still controversial in the United States.

• Fast Facts

  1. About 150 species
  2. Brands: Sweet Leaf and Sugarleaf
  3. 300 times sweeter than sugar
  4. Used for centuries in Brazil
  5. Popular in Japan, China, South America
  6. Coca-Cola announced it would be producing beverages containing Rebiana, a Stevia product, regardless of lack of FDA approvalSlashfood: Coke Products Sweetened With Stevia? (December 19, 2008)
  7. Pepsi plans to release Stevia beverages to market pending FDA approvalSlashfood: Coke Products Sweetened With Stevia? (December 19, 2008)

• Scientific Classification

  1. Kingdom: Plantae
  2. Division: Magnoliophyta
  3. Class: Magnoliopsida
  4. Order: Asterales
  5. Family: Asteraceae
  6. Tribe: Eupatorieae
  7. Genus: Stevia

• United States Controversy

  1. Not FDA approved
  2. Allowed to be sold as a dietary supplement
  3. Not allowed to be a food additive

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Sugar | Honey | Maple Syrup | Artificial Sweetener | Coffee | Aspartame

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