The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Truth about Stevia

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Truth about Stevia

In the world of stevia sweetener, the battle for the best stevia formulation that taste and act closer to sugar has been ongoing. Two prominent contenders in this arena are Stevioside and Rebaudioside. While both are derived from the Stevia plant, there are key differences that set them apart. Let's delve into the sweet symphony of stevia formulation to uncover which one reigns supreme in the realm of sweetness.

Understanding Stevia Formulations and Comparison:

Type	Purity Level & Main Compound	Sweetness (vs. Sugar)	Taste Profile	Pros	Cons	Best Uses
Pure Stevioside	≥95% Stevioside	~200–250×	Sweet with more bitterness and licorice-like aftertaste	Very stable to heat and pH; inexpensive to produce	Strong bitter note; less preferred in beverages	Pharmaceuticals, herbal blends, industrial sweetener bases
Pure Rebaudioside-A (Reb-A98)	≥98% Rebaudioside-A	~200–400×	Sweet, much less bitterness and aftertaste than stevioside	Widely available; good balance of cost and taste; stable in heat	Still slightly lingering aftertaste	Tabletop sweeteners, baking, soft drinks
Pure Rebaudioside-M (Reb-M95)	≥95% Rebaudioside-M	~200–400×	Closest to sugar in taste, very clean, minimal bitterness	Premium taste profile; excellent for beverages; less aftertaste	More expensive; lower yield from leaf (often made via bioconversion)	Premium sodas, flavored waters, high-end desserts
Blended Stevia	1–10% stevia + carrier (erythritol, maltodextrin, allulose, etc.)	~1×	Smooth, sugar-like	Easy to measure; masks bitterness; sugar-like bulk	Not zero-calorie if filler adds calories; quality varies; fillers raises health concerns	Home baking, tabletop packets, coffee sweeteners
Encapsulated Stevia	High-purity stevia coated (gum arabic, maltodextrin, etc.)	~200–300×	Clean, controlled release, less bitterness	Long shelf life; heat/light stability; taste masking	Higher production cost; mainly industrial; coating ingredients raises health concerns	Instant powders, candies, baked goods, sports drinks
Liquid Stevia	Variable purity, dissolved in water/glycerin/alcohol	~200–300×	Sweet, can be flavored	Easy drop-by-drop dosing; good for beverages	Shorter shelf life than powders; may contain preservatives	Iced tea, smoothies, cocktails, flavored drops

Key Takeaways

1. For Cleanest Taste, Purity and Health: Rebaudioside-M95% leads, but costs more.

2. For Mass Market Use, Safety and Purity: Rebauside-A98% offers a balance of taste, availability, and price.

3. For Cost Efficiency: Stevioside is cheapest but more bitter.

4. For Home & Retail Convenience: Blended and Liquid formats are easiest to use, but not the healthiest.

5. For Industrial Stability: Encapsulated stevia works best in high-heat, light-sensitive, or moisture-prone products, but not the healthiest.