Stevian

Stevian is a common misspelling or variation of the word "stevia." Stevia is a natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. The plant is native to South America, particularly Paraguay and Brazil, where it has been used for centuries as a sweetener and a traditional medicine. The sweet compounds in stevia are called steviol glycosides, with the most common being stevioside and rebaudioside A. These compounds are significantly sweeter than sucrose (table sugar), with rebaudioside A being about 200-350 times sweeter.

Stevia extracts are used as a zero-calorie sweetener in a wide range of food and beverage products, including diet sodas, yogurts, baked goods, and chewing gum. They are also available as a standalone sweetener in powder or liquid form for home use. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved highly purified steviol glycosides as food additives. However, whole-leaf stevia or crude stevia extracts are not approved for use as sweeteners in the United States. Research continues into the health effects and applications of stevia and its compounds.