Best Stevia Products & Brands Reviewed
Disclosure: We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases.
Stevia is a popular substitute for sugar that has a lot of buzz around it. The truth is, Stevia is an invaluable sugar substitute for those that are trying to lessen or cut their sugar intake due to dietary or health related concerns. Cutting back on sugar can have many health benefits. These benefits can include decreased risk for diabetes and heart conditions, improved muscular, nerve, and joint function, and also can result in a faster metabolism and improved appetite.
Our taste buds have been spoiled by the amount of refined sugar we eat in our everyday diets, but stevia products offer a delicious alternative. The stevia plant packs a powerfully sweet flavor, so you can still enjoy the beverages and foods that you love without the added sugar. Being 200 to 400 times sweeter than table sugar, a little bit of stevia goes a long way. (1)
For all your sweetening needs, we’ve compiled a list of the best stevia products on the market – so you can enjoy the flavor of sugar without the calories, fat, or guilt.
- Micro Ingredients
-
Our rating - 700 servings
- Price: See Here
- Pyure
-
Our rating - Organic Stevia Powder
- Price: See Here
- SweetLeaf
-
Our rating - Liquid
- Price: See Here
There are a great variety of stevia products available in today’s market, each of which carry its own unique features and tastes. With so many stevia brands out there, all of which are making similar claims of tasting “just like sugar”, it can be hard to believe all of them. The truth of the matter is, all Stevia products are not created equal!
There are a great deal of products, all with varying taste, consistency, and baking options. Do NOT blindly purchase a stevia product and be disappointed when all of your cookies come out tasting like licorice! Ensure you know what kind of stevia product you are looking for.
They can come in many forms, such as products focused on being a baking substitute, a natural sugar replacement, or even geared towards dessert baking. All of these types can carry with them their own unique attributes that facilitate its general purpose. Choose wisely and know what you are looking for! Owning multiple stevia products for multiple uses is not uncommon. Navigating the landscape can be hard, but…
That’s where we come in!
We’ve reviewed many different types of stevia products, ranging from organic, pure, liquid drops, variety packs, packets, etc. What all these products have in common is that they’re all zero-calorie sweeteners that are sugar-free.
With a variety of high-quality stevia products to choose from, we’re confident that you will find the right sugar alternative for you in this list of the best stevia products and best stevia brands on the market.
11 Best Stevia Products & Brands
1. Micro Ingredients – Organic Stevia
This product is pure stevia extract powder, which means it doesn’t contain any added ingredients. It’s slightly more expensive than other stevia products because it’s organic, but it’s still more affordable than comparable stevia products that are organic. Plus, this product comes with a pre-measured scoop.
Best Stevia Brand
Micro Ingredients put health first, so all their products are organic, non-GMO, and free of additives and fillers. They use state-of-the-art technology to convert raw materials into pure powder form while maintaining flavor and nutritional value. They strive to produce 100% pure products without sacrificing customer satisfaction.
Ingredients
This stevia product only has one ingredient: organic stevia powder. Most stevia products are blends of artificial sweeteners, stevia extracts, preservatives, natural flavors, and other filler ingredients. Micro Ingredients has manufactured a stevia product that is 100% stevia extract, and they estimate that one teaspoon of their stevia powder is equivalent to 1 cup of table sugar. The package comes with 4 oz of pure stevia extract.
Applications
Since this powdered stevia product is far more potent than others, you need significantly less of it for your sweetening needs. Instead of using one teaspoon or even half a teaspoon of sweetener, you only need a pinch of this product because it’s pure stevia extract, which is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar. This product comes with a pre-measured scoop, so you can easily acclimate yourself to the appropriate serving size for sweetening beverages and other food items.
Quality
Since Micro Ingredients prioritizes purity, their products don’t contain anything that isn’t absolutely necessary like artificial colors or flavors. Uniquely, all their ingredients come with lab test reports, and Micro Ingredients encourages their customers to request digital copies of those reports because they’re fully transparent. Micro Ingredients products are also manufactured in an FDA-approved facility.
Value
With over 700 servings, this product is one of the longest lasting. Being organic and pure stevia leaf extract, it’s still a great value if you calculate the cost per serving.
- Organic
- Zero-calorie
- Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- Kosher
- Gluten-free
- Free of additives and fillers
- Contains 700 servings
- Uses pure stevia extract
- Comes with a pre-measured scoop for convenience
- Slightly more expensive up-front than other stevia products
2. Pyure – Organic Stevia
This stevia product comes from a company that likes to give back to related causes. Their stevia products are formulated with high-quality, organic ingredients, so you can have all the sweetness without the guilt.
#2 Stevia Brand
Pyure Brands only manufactures stevia products with a range of organic, non-GMO, and zero-glycemic products. They are an eco-friendly brand that uses sustainable harvesting methods. Pyure Brands also donates a portion of their proceeds to diabetes education and other social and environmental causes.
Ingredients
This sweetener only has three ingredients: organic erythritol, organic rebaudioside A (Reb-A), and natural flavors. Pyure Brands wants to keep their natural flavors a secret, but they’ve ensured their customers that the product is free from MSG, sugar, aspartame, dextrose, sucralose, saccharin, animal products, and sugar. The package comes with 1 pound of product
Applications
Pyure Brands labels their stevia product as an all-purpose blend, so its applications are endless and similar to that of sugar. This sweetener is suitable to mix in beverages and replace sugar in baking recipes.
Quality
This brand harvests their stevia leaves from high-quality sources of organic, non-GMO stevia plants. They then process the dried leaves in a way that’s similar to steeping tea to extract the sweetest parts. The product that is left is a fine white powder called rebaudioside A (Reb-A). Because it’s significantly sweeter than sugar, the Reb-A is diluted with erythritol.
Value
With 226 servings per package, this stevia product is long-lasting. It’s priced fairly for the amount of servings and the organic quality; however, it’s not a pure stevia product.
- Organic
- Zero-calorie
- Non-GMO
- Gluten-free
- Kosher
- Zero-glycemic
- Granulated texture
- Doesn’t contain sucrose, dextrose, or aspartame
- All-purpose applications
- Contains minimal ingredients
- Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- Contains more erythritol than stevia extract
3. SweetLeaf – Sweet Drops Liquid Stevia
If you’re looking for a liquid stevia product, look no further – the SweetLeaf Sweet Drops contain all-natural ingredients and the stevia extract is organic. This product also comes in multiple flavors, making your beverages more interesting to drink.
#3 Stevia Brand
SweetLeaf is one of the leading brands of stevia sweetening products. They have created a sugar alternative that’s award-winning, and the company has developed more stevia products than any other company in the world. They are the leading brand in health food stores and the second leading brand in grocery chains. The company has been established for over 35 years and was the first stevia sweetener to receive Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Ingredients
The SweetLeaf Sweet Drops in the Vanilla flavor only contain four ingredients: purified water, organic stevia leaf extract, natural flavors, and vanilla extract. They don’t contain any animal products, sugar, or MSG. Instead of using erythritol to dilute the potent stevia, SweetLeaf uses purified water. This is healthier and easier to use in beverages. The bottle comes with 2 oz of product.
Applications
Because the SweetLeaf Sweet Drops are in liquid form, they’re perfect for sweetening beverages. With these drops, you can make plain water more interesting or add sweetness to your coffee, tea, smoothie, juice, protein shakes, and so on. The drops may not be the best sweetening option for baking and cooking, but you can still sweeten some foods like cereal, oatmeal, sorbet, etc. Choose from 16 flavors.
Quality
The stevia products made by SweetLeaf are zero-calorie, zero-carb, and zero-glycemic. They’re also non-GMO and kosher certified. Their stevia products have won 30 awards for the taste, innovation, and sustainability. While the finished product isn’t completely organic, the stevia extract in every product is certified organic. SweetLeaf is committed to the highest quality stevia products.
Value
With the cost being less than a penny per drop and 288 servings per package, this product is a great value. Liquid stevia drops are usually more expensive and contain fewer servings that powdered stevia products, but SweetLeaf stevia drops are both long-lasting and affordable.
- Stevia extract is organic
- Zero-calorie
- Contains minimal ingredients
- Costs less than a penny per drop
- Comes in 16 flavors
- Non-GMO
- Gluten-free
- Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- Kosher
- Zero-glycemic
- Limited applications
- Must be refrigerated after opening
4. SweetLeaf – Sweet Drops Liquid Stevia Variety Pack
If this brand sounds familiar, that’s because the SweetLeaf Sweet Drops have already appeared on our list as an individual package. This was the original product that came in a glass dropper bottle. SweetLeaf released a new version of the Sweet Drops in a squeezable BPA-free plastic bottle in five new flavors. Now, we’re reviewing the variety pack for people who want to mix up their sweetener flavor on a daily basis.
#3 Stevia Brand
If you’re looking for a brand that specializes in stevia products, look no further than SweetLeaf. They are the #1 brand in developing an extensive collection of stevia products. Not only do they have the most stevia products than any other brand in the world, their sugar alternative is award-winning. Among their accomplishments is being the first stevia product manufacturer to receive Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). SweetLeaf knows what they’re doing with stevia, and it shows in their products.
Ingredients
The new Sweet Drops have new packaging as well as a new formula. The five ingredients include: stevia leaf extract, vegetable glycerin, purified water, natural flavors, and water soluble dietary fiber. SweetLeaf believes the water soluble dietary fiber called inulin promotes good digestion and immune function. Each bottle has 50 ml (approximately 1.7 oz) of product.
Applications
Because the SweetLeaf Sweet Drops are in liquid form, they’re perfect for sweetening beverages. With these drops, you can make plain water more interesting or add sweetness to your coffee, tea, smoothie, juice, protein shakes, and so on. The drops may not be the best sweetening option for baking and cooking, but you can still sweeten some foods like cereal, oatmeal, sorbet, etc.
Quality
The stevia products made by SweetLeaf are zero-calorie, zero-carb, and zero-glycemic. They’re also non-GMO and kosher certified. Their stevia products have won 30 awards for the taste, innovation, and sustainability. SweetLeaf is committed to the highest quality stevia products.
Value
Compared to other stevia products, these SweetLeaf squeezable bottles contain more servings. However, they’re more expensive. Compared to the original SweetLeaf bottle, this product contains slightly fewer servings at a higher cost. This product is worth the value since it’s more convenient and contains a variety of flavors.
- Multiple flavors in a variety pack: caramel, chocolate, coconut, vanilla, and clear
- Easy-to-use squeezable bottle
- Zero-calorie
- Non-GMO
- Gluten-free
- Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- Kosher
- Zero-glycemic
- Doesn’t need to be refrigerated after opening
- Limited applications
- Must use within 30 days of opening
- Fewer servings than the original SweetLeaf bottle
5. Natural Mate – Stevia
Nature Mate is a leading brand in stevia products, so this product is trustworthy and high-quality. Stevia products can be hit or miss, but Nature Mate has perfected the texture of sugar without all the calories in their stevia products. With 1 pound of granulated sweetener, you won’t even notice the difference.
#4 Stevia Brand
Natural Mate is a health-focused company that creates stevia products and some health supplements. They place a huge emphasis on using purified ingredients, and they use an innovative method to make their powdered stevia products in a granular texture similar to sugar.
Ingredients
The Nature Mate stevia sweetener only has three ingredients: erythritol, stevia extract, and natural flavors. Nature Mate doesn’t indicate whether the natural flavors contain animal products, so it’s not clear if this product is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. The package comes with 1 pound of product.
Applications
Nature Mate has mastered the texture of sugar due to their unique co-crystallization process where the stevia leaves and erythritol mix while in liquid form. This results in a powder that is granulated like table sugar. Nature Mate recommends that 1 teaspoon of their stevia sweetener can be used in place of 2 teaspoons of table sugar, so it shares the same applications as sugar while going a further distance.
Quality
Nature Mate is committed to keeping prices low while producing the best quality products possible. They use a facility that’s registered with the FDA, and their products have been third-party tested for quality. Nature Mate stevia products are zero-calorie, zero-glycemic, zero-sugar, gluten-free, and non-GMO.
Value
This product is slightly more expensive than other stevia products. However, many people prefer the high-quality of the granulated texture that is unique to Nature Mate.
- Granulated texture like sugar
- All-purpose applications
- Zero-calorie
- Zero-glycemic
- Gluten-free
- Non-GMO
- Contains minimal ingredients
- Contains more erythritol than stevia extract
6. Enzo – Organic Stevia
Enzo’s Stevia contains 1,600 servings This product is suitable for vegans and it’s also organic and contains only pure stevia extract.
#5 Stevia Brand
Enzo’s Private Selection is a new company that makes organic matcha tea and organic stevia powder – a delicious combination. The company’s products quickly became popular because of the purity of the matcha and stevia plants that the products are derived from.
Ingredients
The only ingredient in this product is organic stevia extract. The company doesn’t include any additives to dilute the stevia. They also don’t use other filler ingredients commonly found in stevia products, such as aspartame, erythritol, sucralose, silica, inulin, artificial flavors, and preservatives. This package comes with 200 grams of pure stevia extract.
Applications
The company suggests using as little as 1/12 teaspoon to sweeten beverages and some food items that would call for 1 teaspoon of sugar. Their other conversions include: 1/4 teaspoon to replace 1 tablespoon of sugar and 4 teaspoons to replace 1 cup of sugar. Because this product is pure stevia and believed to be 120 times sweeter than sugar, you need significantly less of it to sweeten food and drink.
Quality
Enzo’s stevia products are organic, non-GMO, vegan, and kosher. They are also BRC-certified for safety. Enzo’s Private Selection believes their stevia is 120 times sweeter than raw sugar, which is why the serving size is much smaller than other stevia products.
Value
With 1,600 servings per package, the cost is approximately one penny per serving, making this very good value for money.
- Organic
- Gluten-free
- Kosher
- Non-GMO
- Zero-calorie
- Contains only pure stevia extract
- BRC-certified
- Free of additives and fillers
- Contains 1,600 servings
- Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- Doesn’t come with a scoop for small serving size
7. Truvia – Natural Sweetener
You’ve probably heard of Truvia before or seen Truvia in your local grocery store. This is a brand that specializes in sugar-free sweeteners but uses less than 1% of stevia extract in this product. It’s a delicious sweetener without the sugar, but it contains more erythritol than stevia.
#6 Stevia Brand
Truvia is one of the leading brands of stevia products. The company works towards improving sustainability in three ways: community, environment, and sourcing of ingredients. The company has been developing stevia products for over a decade with their mission to replace sugar, not flavor.
Ingredients
Truvia’s stevia products contain three ingredients: erythritol, stevia leaf extract, and natural flavors. The erythritol is used to dilute the sweetness and aftertaste of the stevia so you can use more of the sweetener at once. The actual amount of stevia leaf extract in Truvia products is less than 1%. The package comes with 400 packets of sweetener.
Applications
The pre-measured packets of powder make Truvia the perfect product for coffee lovers. With one packet equaling two teaspoons of sugar, you can easily sweeten your coffee, tea, smoothie, protein shake, lemonade, etc. with just one or two packets. You can also sprinkle Truvia stevia packets on oatmeal, cereal, and yogurt. The packets are very convenient for travel and on-the-go use but not as easy to use for cooking and baking.
Quality
Being a leading and widely accessible brand, Truvia ensures that its products are suitable for many lifestyles and as safe as possible, being non-GMO, gluten-free, MSG-free, vegan, and kosher. The products are also calorie-free and low in carbohydrates.
Value
This product uniquely contains packets instead of loose powder, so you’re paying a little extra for the convenience of pre-measured servings.
- Pre-measured packets are convenient
- Convenient for travel or on-the-go use
- Zero-calorie
- Gluten-free
- Non-GMO
- MSG-free
- Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- Kosher
- Widely accessible
- Contains less than 1% of stevia
- Contains more erythritol than stevia
- More expensive than other stevia products
8. Mommy Knows Best – Pure Stevia
This is a product made for mothers by mothers, so it contains the purest, safest ingredients. The only ingredient is stevia extract, and it contains 1,500 servings. This is one of the highest quality and best value stevia products.
#7 Stevia Brand
Mommy Knows Best offers a range of health products from lactation support, breastfeeding support, beauty products, and sweeteners. Their mission is to help mothers make healthy choices with products that are made for mothers by mothers.
Ingredients
The only ingredient in this product is stevia extract powder and is believed to be up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. Mommy Knows Best recommends a serving size of 1/32 teaspoon (approximately one pinch) to sweeten beverages and food items, so mothers can replace table sugar with one pure ingredient without any harmful added ingredients. The package comes with 1.5 oz of pure stevia extract.
Applications
The highly concentrated stevia powder makes it easy to have a long-lasting sweetener with multiple applications. The packaging contains a convenient conversion table for cooking and baking.
Quality
Mommy Knows Best offers one of the highest quality stevia products on the market because it’s pure extract that’s highly concentrated. Their stevia doesn’t include any fillers, additives, or chemicals, and the product is gluten-free and vegan friendly. The company also follows Good Manufacturing Practices for safety and quality assurance. Mommy Knows best offers a natural alternative to added sugar.
Value
This product contains 1,500 servings but the serving size is extremely small. You don’t get a lot of product, but the container will last you a long time. Although this product is slightly more expensive than other brands, it’s worth the price for the quality, amount of servings, and purity.
- Contains pure stevia leaf extract
- Doesn’t contain any filler ingredients
- Zero-calorie
- Gluten-free
- Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- Follows Good Manufacturing Practices
- Contains significantly less product than other pure stevia extract products
- Doesn’t come with a pre-measured scoop for small serving size (1/32 teaspoon)
- Not labeled kosher
- Not labeled non-GMO
9. Stur – Liquid Stevia Variety Pack
This is the only stevia product on our list that contains fruit and vegetable juices for added vitamin C and antioxidants. Stur’s products make drinking water delicious, healthy, and convenient.
#8 Stevia Brand
Stur Drinks was created by a man who wanted to help his wife drink more water during pregnancy. They have made it their mission to create products safe for the whole family without having to add sugar. Because of their water-flavoring agenda, the company donates part of their proceeds to water charities to help solve the clean drinking water crisis. Stur stands for “Savor The Ultimate Reason,” as the founders want their customers to reach their water-drinking goals with their health goals in mind.
Ingredients
These products contain only five all-natural ingredients: natural stevia leaf extract, natural fruit flavor extracts, natural citric acid, Vitamin C, and juice from fruits and vegetables. The variety pack comes with 5 bottles that each have 20 servings for a total of 100 servings.
Applications
Stur Drinks are water enhancement products, so they’re meant to flavor liquids. The company’s mission is to get people to drink more water, but you can add Stur Drinks to many types of liquid: coffee, tea, smoothies, juice, lemonade, protein shakes, etc.
Quality
Stur is a brand of natural products, and to remain natural, the company steeps their stevia leaves in warm water instead of methanol. Their stevia leaves aren’t chemically treated or genetically modified.
Value
With only 100 servings, this product has the fewest servings on our list, but it’s still one of the highest quality products on the market. With added fruits and vegetables, the value is worth it for the safe ingredients.
- All-natural
- Contains vitamin C for antioxidants
- Easy-to-use and travel friendly
- Zero-calorie
- Gluten-free
- Doesn’t require refrigeration
- Limited applications to just liquid
- Not certified kosher
- Has fewer servings than other stevia products
- Not labeled vegetarian or vegan
10. Kiva – Organic Stevia Powder
Kiva is eco-friendly, supports local farmers, and uses minimal processing on their products. This is a high-quality, organic stevia product with nearing 400 servings for an affordable price – you can’t go wrong.
#9 Stevia Brand
Kiva is a brand that makes superfood powders, oils, supplements, and spices. The company sources high-quality ingredients from around the world to make innovative products that are healthy and delicious. They support local farmers who use sustainable farming methods for eco-friendly products.
Ingredients
This stevia product only contains two ingredients: organic erythritol and organic stevia extract. They state that their ingredients are locally sourced, sustainably farmed, and minimally processed to maintain the natural benefits and great taste. Kiva recommends a serving size of ⅛ teaspoon to substitute one teaspoon of sugar. The package contains 8 oz of product.
Applications
The Kiva stevia powder can be easily added to beverages and other food items. Kiva recommends adding their sweetener to fruit smoothies and candied walnuts, but you can use this product like you would use sugar. The packaging contains a conversion chart to easily swap out sugar for Kiva stevia.
Quality
Because Kiva wants to keep their products as close to how nature intended, their products are processed the least possible. They use methods like low temperature processing and freeze drying to avoid overly processing their products. Their standard includes no artificial flavors, sugar, or filler ingredients. Because of this, the Kiva stevia powder is almost pure stevia extract. For quality assurance, Kiva’s products are third-party tested to ensure safety.
Value
This product is priced fairly for an organic product with nearly 400 servings. The quality makes it worth the value.
Brand
Kiva is a brand that makes superfood powders, oils, supplements, and spices. The company sources high-quality ingredients from around the world to make innovative products that are healthy and delicious. They support local farmers who use sustainable farming methods for eco-friendly products.
- Organic
- Non-GMO
- Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- Gluten-free
- Low glycemic index
- Contains minimal ingredients
- Third-party tested
- Locally sourced ingredients
- Sustainably produced
- Minimal processing
- Contains more erythritol than stevia extract
11. Purisure – All Natural Stevia
This all-natural stevia contains 100% pure stevia extract, 90% of which are the active compounds in stevia called steviosides, which make stevia hundreds of times sweeter than sugar. Purisure’s stevia contains no erythritol, maltodextrin, vegetable fibers, fillers, or binders that would take away from the great health benefits of a completely natural sweetener. This is one of the cleanest and most natural stevia products on the market.
#10 Stevia Brand
Purisure is a branch of the company Wholesale Health Connection. They produce some of the markets best health supplements, sports nutrition products, sweeteners, and more. Purity and quality are their top priorities.
Ingredients
Purisure uses some of the cleanest ingredients we’ve seen in stevia products. Containing just pure stevia, this product’s ingredients list is minimal yet potent. Purisure opts to avoid added ingredients like erythritol and maltodextrin, which can give stevia products a strong after taste. Instead, consumers can enjoy the pure, sweet taste of all-natural stevia extract.
Applications
Purisure’s All Natural Stevia has a powdered consistency similar to granulated sugar. The texture allows it to be used similarly to table sugar, but one serving size is only 1/32 teaspoon, which is roughly a pinch. This stevia can be used in hot or cold beverages as well as in baked goods. Wherever you would use 1 cup of sugar, you can substitute for 1 teaspoon of this stevia product.
Quality
Steviosides are what makes stevia sweet, and this product is made of more than 90% steviosides. This is a high-quality stevia product because it doesn’t contain any filler ingredients, which are often used in stevia products to dilute the stevia.
Value
Because this product is pure stevia powder, it contains significantly more servings than some stevia products. This is why it’s slightly more expensive but still maintains a great value.
- All-natural
- Non-GMO
- No additives
- Minimal ingredients
- Contains 90% steviosides
- Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- Zero calories
- Allergen friendly
- Contains 846 servings
- Slightly more expensive than other stevia products
All About Stevia Products
The major application of stevia products is to replace table sugar. To enjoy all the sweetness without the guilt sounds like it’s too good to be true, but it’s possible with stevia products.
Fortunately, some sweeteners are healthier than others, and the products that come from the stevia rebaudiana plant are a perfect example.
Just like you wouldn’t eat the sugar cane plant directly, stevia plants must be prepared to make stevia products. However, stevia products are less processed than sugar cane products.
The process is simply drying out the stevia leaves, which are steeped in hot water, filtered, and purified to get an extracted form of the stevia rebaudiana plant.
Ingredients may be added to stevia products to balance out the sweetness or add natural flavors. This is where some stevia products differ from others. Many stevia products have added ingredients like artificial sweeteners to give the stevia a more appealing taste.
With stevia, a little goes a long way, so using too much may affect the potent flavor. Depending on your taste preferences, you may like the flavor combinations of some stevia products more than others.
The one thing that all stevia products share in common – they’re as sweet as sugar without all the calories, guilt, and drawbacks.
What’s in Stevia Products?
Not all parts of the stevia plant are used to make sweetening products. In fact, stevia products come from steviol glycosides, which are chemical compounds that are extracted from the stevia leaves and purified to become a stevia-based sweetening product.
The main steviol glycoside used in most stevia products is rebaudioside A (Reb-A), and it’s the chemical compound that gives stevia its potent sweetness. Reb-A is made of natural glucose and is the sweetest part of the stevia plant found in the leaves.
Other ingredients include natural flavors and flavoring agents like vanilla extract to give the stevia product added flavor. Some stevia products add fruit extracts for vitamins and antioxidants, while other products add fruit and vegetable juice for flavor.
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol made from cornstarch that may be added to stevia to add sweetness and flavor while maintaining a low number of calories. It’s a common ingredient to add to stevia products because it’s believed to mask the aftertaste of stevia. However, this ingredient isn’t recommended because it’s poorly metabolized by the body. (2)
Different Types of Stevia Products
The most common form of stevia products is powders. Stevia powders require the most processing to product a fine, crystallized powder texture, but it’s the most popular because it closely resembles sugar. It’s very easy and convenient to replace table sugar with powdered stevia because the sweetness and texture are similar.
Stevia products also come in liquid form, making it very easy to add drops of stevia to beverages like water, coffee, and tea. Liquid stevia can have its naturally sweet flavor, or it can be flavored with vanilla extract and other natural flavors. Variety packs of liquid stevia are available with a multitude of flavors: vanilla, chocolate, coconut, watermelon, fruit punch, tropical, etc. These are convenient for making plain water more interesting to drink, and they’re usually the most travel friendly option.
The least processed form of stevia products is whole stevia leaves. The leaves are still dried out, then it’s up to the user how to use them. You can grind up the dried leaves yourself to form a grainy powder, but this powder will not resemble the stevia powders that have been crystallized. You can also keep the leaves in their whole form in teas and smoothies. While this is the least processed, it’s also less convenient than prepared stevia extract products.
Choosing the Best Stevia Products
There are many stevia products on the market to choose from, and at first glance, they all seem great. But we have conducted extensive research to find the best stevia products on the market so you don’t have to.
Here’s the criteria we considered when reviewing the 10 best stevia products:
-
Ingredients
A lot of the time, stevia products consist of just stevia extract and preservatives. However, the product may contain other artificial sweeteners and natural flavors. The best stevia products contain pure stevia leaf extract as the main ingredient, as many stevia products contain more erythritol than stevia.
-
Who it’s for
It’s important that stevia products appeal to various lifestyles and people with dietary restrictions. Many people are vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, organic, non-GMO, all-natural, kosher, etc. The best stevia products appeal to the diversity of consumers. This also includes being safe for children and pregnant women.
-
Quality
The FDA considers stevia products to be safe for consumption, but stevia products don’t need to be approved by the FDA to be sold for consumption. This is why it’s very important for stevia products to follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and conduct third-party tested by independent labs. Stevia products should also be manufactured in a facility that is regulated and approved by the FDA. Stevia products that follow stringent quality assurance procedures are among the best on the market.
-
Brand
Since stevia products are consumed orally, it’s vital to purchase them from a trusted brand. Many brands that manufacture stevia products specialize in supplements, ingredients, or sweeteners. These are all competitive industries with little federal regulation. Trusted brands who go the extra mile to ensure their products are high-quality, safe, and use the finest ingredients produce the best stevia products.
The best stevia products contain minimal ingredients, are suitable for various lifestyles (i.e. vegan, gluten-free, etc.), are high-quality and third-party tested, and manufactured by a trusted brand.
Calories in Stevia Products
Stevia products aren’t meant to be used as meal replacement products because they have no nutritional value – they’re actually considered non-nutritive sweeteners because they don’t add caloric value to the foods that contain them. (3) Just like you wouldn’t consume refined sugar for nutritional reasons, you wouldn’t rely on stevia products for your nutritional needs like protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Stevia products can be used as part of a healthy lifestyle, however. This is because stevia products are extremely low in calories or completely free of calories.
The stevia extract itself has no calories, but some manufacturers add other ingredients like artificial sweeteners and natural flavors, which may slightly affect the number of calories.
The calories in stevia products mainly come from carbohydrates, but it’s not a significant amount of carbohydrates. None of the calories in stevia products come from fat or protein.
Since stevia products are generally zero-calorie, they make a great alternative to refined sugar or other natural sweeteners, which can be high in calories.
Stevia Products vs. Refined Sugar
Stevia products are the perfect solution to replacing refined sugar. Stevia products are lower in calories and don’t stay in the body as long as sugar. In fact, stevia leaves the body through urine, so it’s not absorbed in the body like sugar.
Some of the ways that stevia compares to sugar include:
-
Calories
One teaspoon of sugar has approximately 16 calories. Depending on how much sugar you’re adding to your foods and beverages throughout the day, you can consume several hundred calories just from added sugar. Imagine replacing that chunk of calories with a zero-calorie sweetener. Being so low in calorie, stevia products can help lower your caloric intake while still providing the sweetness that you crave.
-
Effect on the body
Sugar affects the body in many harmful ways: it’s linked to diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver disease, high cholesterol, etc. Sugar is also highly addictive. Unlike sugar, stevia doesn’t stay in the body very long, as it’s excreted through urine.
-
Applications
Stevia extract is processed in such a way to closely resemble table sugar, making it easy to switch. Some of the ways that stevia can replace sugar in your everyday routine include sweetening your coffee or tea, sprinkled on cereal, mixed in oatmeal, sweetening lemonade, mixed in unsweetened yogurt, and many more applications in recipes that call for sugar in cooking and baking.
Using Stevia Products Safely
Using stevia products is a hot topic, so it’s common to feel apprehensive about introducing a new sweetener into your life. Fortunately, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that stevia products are safe to use and there have been over 500 clinical studies on the safety and efficacy of stevia. (4, 5)
Side Effects of Using Stevia Products
While stevia is considered safe by the FDA, some users have reported side effects. Most of these side effects have to do with the digestive system since stevia is a food item.
Because stevia can replace sugar altogether, it can induce an intolerance to sugar in people who don’t regularly consume sugar once they’ve switched to stevia. Stevia can also interfere with gut flora in the microbiome, which can lead to a multitude of other digestive illnesses. (6)
Who Should Avoid Stevia Products
The stevia plant belongs to the Asteraceae plant family, which includes daisies, dandelions, ragweeds, chrysanthemums, zinnias, and thousands of other herbs, shrubs, and flowers. People with allergies to Asteraceae plants should avoid stevia products or use stevia products with caution. (7) Some literature on stevia products report that allergies to stevia may not exist. (8)
Stevia products may also interfere with some medications. (9) If you’re taking medication regularly, avoid stevia products or use them with caution.
While stevia is generally considered safe for everyone, including pregnant women, children, and diabetics, it’s best to check with your physician, especially if you have serious health complications.
5 Health Benefits of Stevia Products
Stevia products are non-nutritive, which means they don’t contain any nutrients (i.e. macronutrients like protein and micronutrients like vitamin C). However, being free of calories and nutrients doesn’t mean stevia products don’t have any health benefits.
Decreasing the amount of refined sugar you consume is a major benefit of switching to stevia products for all your sweetener needs, but your body also benefits from some of stevia’s properties.
Some of the main health benefits of consuming stevia products include:
-
Manages blood sugar
Stevia products produce significantly lower insulin and glucose levels compared to sucrose (table sugar) and other artificial sweeteners like aspartame. (10) This is good news for diabetics, since diabetic animals consuming stevia daily were found with significantly reduced blood sugar levels. (11, 12)
Stevia products are also believed to naturally treat endocrine diseases, such as diabetes, and metabolic syndrome due to their aqueous extracts and steviol content. (13)
-
Aids in weight loss
Sugar table accounts for a large percentage of the total calories in the average diet, so replacing those calories with a zero-calorie sweetener would reduce not only the amount of sugar consumed, but also the overall caloric intake. Creating a caloric deficit leads to healthy weight loss and management.
Because stevia can help manage metabolic syndrome, which is linked to obesity, stevia products can be an effective zero-calorie replacement in foods and beverages that would otherwise contain high-calorie sucrose. (14)
-
Regulates blood pressure
Having high pressure puts a strain on the rest of the body and can cause predispositions to other health issues, which is why regulating blood pressure is crucial for a healthy lifestyle. Long-term studies support the findings that stevia products help lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients. (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) The results are more conclusive – and the benefits more prevalent – in patients with high blood pressure than in patients with normal blood pressure. (20)
-
Lowers cholesterol levels
Consuming stevia products is associated with reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Stevia also increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, which is the good kind of cholesterol that removes bad cholesterol from the bloodstream. (21)
-
Anticancer properties
Stevia products have been shown to eliminate cancer cells through a process called apoptosis and decrease some stress pathways that promote cancer growth. (22) The therapeutic properties of stevia products include anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties. (23) Stevia is also associated with high levels of antioxidants, which can have cancer-fighting properties. (24, 25)
Many studies are still being conducted on stevia products to determine other potential benefits, such oral health benefits, reduced osteoporosis, lowered risk of heart disease, and improved bone health.
Your Questions Answered (FAQ)
Is Stevia Safe?
Stevia is generally recognized as safe (GRAS status) by the FDA. (26) Hundreds of studies have been conducted on stevia products, so researchers consider it safe for human consumption. (27, 28, 29, 30)
What Does Stevia Taste Like?
Stevia has a naturally sweet taste, but many people describe it as tasting like licorice. Many people also consider stevia products to have a strange aftertaste similar to diet sodas. Stevia products may contain other sweetening agents to balance out the strong flavor of stevia. The products containing only stevia extract may have stronger flavors than other stevia products. Higher quality sources of stevia are also believed to taste better.
Are Stevia Products Safe to Use During Pregnancy?
The available data suggests that stevia products don’t have adverse effects during pregnancy in animals. (31, 32, 33) Some studies advise that pregnant women consume stevia products in moderation and with caution as more studies need to be done on the link between stevia products and human pregnancy. (34, 35)
Are Stevia Products Safe for Children?
Some researchers believe that stevia products may be especially beneficial to children as they decrease their sugar intake. (36) However, others advise that children consume stevia products in moderation and with caution as more studies need to be done on the link between stevia products and children. (37)
Are Stevia Products Diabetic-Friendly?
Stevia products are considered safe for people with diabetes. Some researches even believe that stevia is beneficial for diabetics because it doesn’t increase blood sugar levels. (38, 39) Stevia can actually lower glucose and insulin levels in people with diabetes. (40)
What Can I Add Stevia to?
Just like with regular, granulated sugar, stevia can be added to just about any sort of food item that you would like to consume. Down below, we give you a list of ideas to get you started on using it:
-
Coffee and tea
As previously mentioned, you can add stevia to your fresh brew, whether it be coffee or tea. Especially if you do not like drinking it plain or black, it is a good alternative to keeping the same taste that you are accustomed to.
-
Baked goods
From cookies to cakes to pies and everything in between, there is no problem in substituting granulated sugar with stevia. However, be careful with measurements, for stevia is much more potent in sweetness than normal sugar — that said, you only need a little bit to get the same equivalent as with sugar itself. As a rule of thumb, 1/32 teaspoon of stevia is the standard 1 teaspoon of normal sugar, so measure accordingly when you are baking something!
-
Cooking sauces/dressings
Similar to baked goods, you can also add a little bit of stevia to sauces and dressings for that “extra kick” in flavor. Again, you only need a little bit for the same effect as sugar, so be careful not to overload on it!
The different types of stevia products have different applications. Powdered stevia, for example, can make a great sugar replacement in baking and cooking. Liquid stevia drops, on the other hand, work much better as a water enhancer or to sweeten smoothies, protein shakes, and other drinks.
What Is the Conversion from Sugar to Stevia?
The conversion from sugar to stevia varies per product. In powdered stevia products, the conversion will likely be a fraction of a teaspoon. In liquid stevia drops, the conversion will usually be a couple of drops. In stevia products containing only pure stevia extract, you may need as little as one teaspoon of pure stevia extract to replace one cup of sugar.
Your stevia product will most likely have a conversion chart on the packaging to make this very easy.
Why Are Ingredients Added to Stevia Products?
We’ve selected the highest quality stevia products on the market, which means that these products contain the least amount of ingredients possible. However, sometimes manufactures need to add ingredients to stevia products for various reasons – improve the flavor, preserve the product, make it easier to digest, dilute the potent stevia extract, etc.
A common ingredient added to stevia products is erythritol. This is a sweetening agent that complements the strong flavor of stevia while diluting the product, so it lasts longer. With the help of erythritol, you’re less likely to experience the strong flavor of stevia that some people compare to licorice and diet soda.
Why Are Some Stevia Products Low in Stevia Content?
You may encounter stevia products that are as low as 1% actual stevia content in them. These are considered stevia-based sweetener products. These products prioritize sweetness over the benefits of consuming stevia. If you’re looking for a zero-calorie sweetener, 1% stevia may be all that is needed to make your taste buds happy.
Why Is Stevia Considered a Healthier Alternative to Sugar?
When it comes to regular, granulated sugar, taking in too much of it can lead to problems such as developing Type 2 diabetes, increasing blood sugar levels (thereby resulting in hypertension), weight gain, and also cavities in the teeth. In fact, such types of sugar are considered just as dangerous as illegal drugs such as cocaine, as it can get really addictive and result in severe withdrawal symptoms should you cut back.
That said, stevia is considered a better alternative to normal sugar, for it not only has the same sweet taste (if not more potent), but also it does not create the same problems as normal sugar does. In other words, stevia does not have the same properties as sugar which increases blood sugar levels, thereby avoiding the possibility of developing Type 2 diabetes and hypertension (aka high blood pressure). In a way, it is a healthier alternative, all the while allowing you to avoid sacrificing sugar altogether for consumption.
Do Stevia Products Contain Any Carbs?
Some of the products contain extremely minimal amounts of carbs due to the erythritol contained, but these products lack any trace of the licorice aftertaste some all-organic blends present. The most carbs a product will have is 1-2g.
Can Stevia Powders Be Used for Baking?
Yes, any of the granulated or powder forms of stevia contained in our list can be used as substitutes for sugar in your favorite baking recipes. However, some of the products are not intended for baking, and the companies that make them also provide products specifically designed to be used in baking recipes.
How Does the Stevia Taste Compare to Splenda?
The majority of cases report that stevia is much sweeter than Splenda, and it also tastes much more similar to pure sugar. It also is non-GMO and free of aspartame, making it a much healthier option.
Some Products State They Contain “Natural” Flavors. Do These Include Aspartame?
No, none of the products in our list contain aspartame, as aspartame can have deleterious health effects as well as ruin the healthy, sweet taste of our stevia picks. The natural flavors are normally a proprietary blend of ingredients to balance out the bitter taste of the stevia. They DO NOT contain MSG, sucralose, or aspartame.
