How to Use Stevia Leaves: Powder, Syrup and Recipe Ideas

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Use stevia leaves to sweeten foods and drinks without extra calories.
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Stevia is a zero-calorie sweetener that's 250 to 300 times sweeter than sugar, per a May 2015 report in Nutrition Today. But it doesn't raise blood sugar levels like sugar does (which also means it's safe for people with diabetes), per a March-April 2020 report in ​Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine.

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While you can find stevia packets in many grocery aisles, you can also grow the plant at home.

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Stevia leaf is a hardy zone 9 to 11 perennial herb, perfect for your windowsill garden. You can purchase the plant as a seedling and use the leaves fresh from the plant or dry them for later use.

Buy Stevia Seeds

What to Do With Fresh Stevia Leaves

  • Use them to sweeten tea​: Pinch 1 to 4 leaves from the top of a branch to sweeten a cup of tea. Taking leaves from the top will encourage side growth and a bushier plant. Steep the fresh leaves along with your tea bag in 1 cup of hot water.
  • Chew two fresh leaves to curb sugar cravings​: The sweet taste will remain in your mouth for up to an hour.
  • Add it to smoothies​: Instead of adding caloric honey or maple syrup to your smoothies, turn to zero-cal stevia. Start by adding a quarter of the leaf to your smoothie, and test the sweetness, adding more of the leaf if you'd like a sweeter taste.
  • Turn it into powder or syrup​: Look to the instructions below for how to make stevia powder and syrup. You can then use the powder and syrup in many different ways.

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How to Make Dry Stevia Leaf Powder

Things You'll Need

  • Stevia plant

  • Mortar and pestle

  • Scissor

1. Dry the Leaves

You can cut whole branches from the plant and hang the branch upside down in a dark, cool area until the leaves are dry.

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Alternatively, dry individual leaves between sheets of paper towel. When you can crumble the leaf easily, that means they're fully dried.

2. Grind Them Into Powder

Grind the dry leaves with a mortar and pestle until you have a fine powder. Dry leaves are sweeter than fresh, and one teaspoon of stevia powder is as sweet as about 10 teaspoons of sugar.

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You can then use the powder to make stevia syrup if you prefer a liquid sweetener.

How to Make Stevia Syrup

Things You'll Need

  • Stevia powder

  • 2 cups water

  • Medium pot

  • Wooden spoon

  • Cheesecloth

  • Airtight container

1. Boil Water and Add Stevia Powder

Boil 2 cups of distilled water in a medium pot. Add 1 teaspoon of your dry leaf powder and reduce the temperature to a simmer.

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2. Let It Simmer

Simmer the mixture until it has reduced and thickened to the consistency of syrup. Use a wooden spoon to stir it occasionally.

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3. Strain It

Strain the syrup through a cheesecloth once it has cooled. Store the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator to increase its shelf life.

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How to Use Stevia Powder or Syrup

You can use stevia just as you'd use regular sugar. Here are a few ways to use stevia leaf powder or syrup:

  • Add it to drinks like sparkling water, tea or coffee
  • Use it in smoothies instead of honey, agave, maple syrup or another sweetener
  • Add it to plain, no-sugar breakfast cereal for flavor
  • Sprinkle it onto nut butter
  • Use it in baking for lower-calorie treats

Tip

Stevia has a faint licorice flavor and a slight bitter aftertaste, so keep that in mind when you're baking with it. Experiment with your particular stevia plant, as different plants have different sweetness levels.

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