Have you ever tried Stevia?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I am wondering if anyone else has tried Stevia instead of Aspertane, Splenda, or Saccharin? I use Stevia and local stores other than the health food markets are starting to carry it. I am wondering if it is gaining popularity?

[cat lover]

I haven't seen it yet in places other than some health food stores; are there any "brand name" groceries starting to carry it?

Also, is it heat stable for cooking?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Here is some more information about Stevia. There are several brands that make it in powder or liquid form. I have been told that it can be used in cooking, but I have never tried it in cooking. I only use it to sweeten my drinks. However, it states that it is only a food supplement and not an additive or something like that. It is 100% natural and non-chemical. That is why I switched to it from using the other chemical sweeteners. I can say that I haven't noticed a difference in taste in the brands, so I purchase the one that is cheaper.

[mamab]

We've had stevia before, and used up what we had. However, we found the bitter aftertaste a little hard to get used to. Maybe we didn't use it long enough to not notice it anymore. We only had a small bottle.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Mama, my DH won't use Stevia because he says he doesn't like the taste. He uses Slenda. But, I personally haven't noticed a bitter aftertaste or otherwise. I do notice it on Saccharin. I have never been able to enjoy that stuff! Stevia seems similar to Equal in taste. The one thing that I do notice with Stevia is that it doesn't disvolve as well.

[tater03]

I have never heard of it. I will have to look for it. Does it have less of an aftertaste? That is one of the things I don't like about the sugar substitues is the aftertaste.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Tater, Mama thinks it has an aftertaste, but I don't detect one. I never asked my DH why he didn't like Stevia, but I am going to ask him as I am now curious. lol If it does have an aftertaste, it definitely has a lighter one than that other nasty stuff. I LOVE it. I carry it always in my purse. The only thing I noticed is that it doesn't dissolve as well as the other sweetener. I akin it to trying to dissolve sugar in ice tea. A lot of it floats to the bottom. If you stir enough, you can dissolve most of it. I guess everything has its good and bad points. Since I am not supposed to have sugar, it is the best thing for me.