I have a little plant that has grown all summer. Have any of you actually used it in cooking/teas?
stevia, now what do I do?
It seems that we hear about the plant, but no one ever says how to use it.
Josephine.
First root several cuttings to keep for next year, then pick lots of leaves and dry them. I just put in as many as needed to sweeten whatever I was making. I have a Mister Coffee Tea maker and would put several leaves in with the tea. We also buy the extract by the lb., the last one lasted me for three years. It takes about 1/2 teaspoon to sweeten two gallons of tea. Yes really.
I have been buying it in little individual packages. Didn't know you could get it by the lb! Thanks Kenboy. This is a very dumb question . Do you let it dry on the stem or as separate leaves?
bananna18
I bought some stevia, in the raw which is in packets this past weekend. Do you have any tips on how much to use in replacement of sugar? I make a pot of coffee and put it in a pitcher for ice coffee. I (please don't anyone cringe on this amount!) put 16 teaspoons of sugar to a pot of coffee. As you can see I really should cut down on the sugar!!
Sue
Sue, just be prepared that it does not taste just like sugar. It's similar to Splenda or the other substitutes in that it tastes fake to your taste buds that are used to that much sugar.
I am a honey girl for sweetening tea and such but I have a box of the packets and use one packet to sweeten my plain greek yogurt. I'd say that one packet has about the same sweetness as two about 2 tsp of sugar. I'd try about 8 packets the first time.
I have them growing almost wild in my yard. I just pick the leaves, set them out in the sun and they are dry by night time here in Texas. The leaves easily crush into powder form. It is about 5-7 minutes of work.
Oh yeah, mine are perennial so far so I dont take winter clippings unless I want to propogate. My cuttings have always rooted.
The packets are less than 10 % extract and the one we get by the lb. is 95% pure. I have used it for so long, I can not stand the syrupey taste that sugar has. The taste is different and does take some getting use to but think of what 16 teaspoons of sugar does to the body.
I use 1/2 packet in a double espresso. I have learned over the years to tolerate less salty and sweet. Have not used it in cooking.
Do you get your supply locally, Kenboy?
The local health food stores sell small bottles for big $, Maggi gets in on-line. The old place she got it went out of business. I think the last lb. lasted me over three years. The new batch is even stronger and very fresh. It is best kept in the freezer. I take out a few tablespoons and keep in a little air tight can and that last a few weeks. Here is what I found on the bottle; certified organic,
Now Foods
www.vitaminlife.com
866-998-8855
425-702-8363
Thanks so much. I know it is pricey in the stores. I also use vanilla flavor liquid drops into no fat yogurt.( Just 100cal/8 oz of yogurt, if watching your weight)
Next dumb question, jujubetexas, do you put the leaves under something so they don't blow away?
Thanks for the info on the amount to use. :-)
I've grown and used Stevia in the past. I didn't much care for the aftertaste it left. I steeped the leaves in boiling hot water for about 5 minutes. Then, like tea, I strained the leaves and used the liquid to sweeten drinks or use in recipes. I found this better and easier than using dried leaves... both for texture and color. I don't see why you couldn't steep a quantity of liquid and freeze it in ice cube trays, bagging the cubes for freezing and use at a later time. pod
How did know how much liquid to use? I guess you must taste as you cook!
Yes, it depends on how concentrated it is so sweeten to taste.