Esteviä

Esteviä is a genus of shrubs in the family Asteraceae, commonly known as the stevia plant. These plants are native to northeastern Mexico and parts of Central and South America. The most well-known species within the genus is Stevia rebaudiana, which is cultivated for its leaves, prized for their sweet taste.

The sweetness of stevia leaves comes from a group of chemical compounds called steviol glycosides. When the leaves are dried and processed, these glycosides are extracted. The most abundant and widely used steviol glycoside is rebaudioside A. Steviol glycosides are significantly sweeter than sucrose (table sugar), with rebaudioside A being up to 300 times sweeter.

Historically, indigenous peoples of South America have used the leaves of various stevia species for centuries as a sweetener in teas and other beverages, as well as for medicinal purposes. In recent decades, stevia has gained international popularity as a natural, zero-calorie sweetener. It is often used as a sugar substitute in food and beverage products, as well as in tabletop sweeteners.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has generally recognized several high-purity steviol glycosides as safe for use as food additives. Regulations and availability may vary by country. While the leaves themselves are not approved as a food additive in many regions, purified stevia extracts are widely used. Research continues into the properties and applications of stevia.