For many years stevia consumers have complained about an aftertaste caused by their stevia concentrate products. This aftertaste or bitterness is associated with the contents within that powder. Not all stevia extracts are the same; there are different qualities and different components. Stevia Canada deals with only one herb, we research only one herb, and we are committed to bringing our clients only the best of that one herb - stevia!

Within each stevia leaf are sweetening agents or steviol glycosides. According to the Canadian Government, Agriculture Canada, Research Branch, “The four major steviol glycosides are: stevioside, Rebaudioside A, Rebaudioside C and Dulcoside A”

This clearly states that stevioside and Rebaudioside A are different components and not one in the same.

The stevioside ratio in leaves is more than double that of Rebaudioside A, making stevioside more plentiful, economical and most commonly used in North America. There is an aftertaste to stevioside which is drastically reduced to non-detectability in Rebaudioside A. Rebaudioside A makes up only about 3% of the glycosides within a stevia leaf. The Canadian Government, Agriculture Canada, Research Branch reports that “Stevioside was between 110-270 times sweeter than sucrose, Rebaudioside A between 150 - 320, and Rebaudioside C between 40 - 60. Rebaudioside A was the least astringent, the least bitter, had the least persistent aftertaste and was judged to have the most favourable sensory attributes of the four major steviol glycosides (Phillips 1989, Tanaka 1997).”

Despite North American officials lack of enthusiasm towards stevia, it is embraced as a safe and natural alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners. “These sweetening agents are now in general use in Japan, China, Korea, Israel, Brazil and Paraguay (Crammer & Ikan, 1986) and to date there have been no reports of adverse effects from the use of stevia products by humans.”

The North American markets are flooded with stevia powders and liquids with a high stevioside content. In Japan, where stevia has been vastly consumed for decades, a higher ratio of stevioside content stevia powder is used in pet foods, as the negative aftertaste in stevioside is deemed not suitable for human pallets.

We recently received correspondence from a consumer regarding the stevia sold by another company. For the same price as us, this company sells stevia with 80% steviosides and 40% Rebaudioside A, and claims that it is of superior quality. Our response included the statement that “the truthful contents of a powder can add up to only 100%.” Education of the public is key, and Stevia Canada strives to bring truthful and accurate information regarding stevia quality. Stevia Canada provides quality customer service and we stand behind our products. We want our clients to be able to knowledgeably choose the quality for themselves.

You can trust Stevia Canada to bring you the best ... We are exclusively stevia!
Jolene Pilger, President of Stevia Canada
© Stevia Canada December 2002