Where does the natural sweetness come from?

Stevia - the South American who loves warmth

The wild deposits of stevia are found on the plateaus of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. Here there is a semi-humid climate, which is characterized by high amounts of precipitation. The mild temperatures rarely drop below twenty degrees Celsius. The soils in this region are slightly acidic, clayey, sandy and therefore well drained. Because of their low nutritional content, they are considered to be almost sterile. Stevia has optimally adapted to these conditions and in its natural form develops bushy shoots up to one meter high.

Frugal perennial

Since the branches of stevia grow almost unbranched, the plant needs a lot of light to develop its foliage, but hardly any nutrients. Depending on the climate, the honey leaf thrives in its natural habitat as an evergreen plant or sheds the leaves at cooler temperatures. The stevia then draws its life force back into the extensive root stock and at higher temperatures it sprouts fresh and green. The main flowering time of the honey leaf falls in late autumn. Fertilization is done by the wind that is almost always prevalent on the plateaus and carries the pollen from one flower to the next.

Rediscovery by the Europeans

The Swiss naturalist Moisés Giacomo “Santiago” Bertoni was the first European to come across the honey leaf in the border area with Brazil. At first he suspected that the sweet leaf would be a hitherto unknown species of Eupatorium due to its similarity to the water deast native to Europe. It wasn't until the beginning of the 20th In the mid-19th century, stevia was correctly classified and was given its Latin plant name in honor of Bertoni.

The locals have valued stevia since time immemorial

Stevia is highly valued by the indigenous people of South America. People living in South America still use the plant as a highly effective natural medicine and to sweeten mate tea. During the Second World War, when sugar was scarce, the sweet herb was first tried out as a sugar substitute in England. Since 11. November 2011 stevia is also in the EU allowed as a food additive and is used in low-sugar foods.

Tips & Tricks

To sweeten food and drinks, you can use either fresh stevia leaves, a stevia extract or stevia powder. You can get all of these sweeteners from yourself Making leaves of the plant.