Organic stevia leaf powder -- now what?

[Elloise]

I am liking the natural food isle in the grocery store more and more. I've seen most of the products people mention on this board.

I noticed they refilled the bulk canisters of spices. Sometimes I wonder how long that stuff has been sitting there. I bought 2 heaping tablespoons of organic stevia powder.

What could I possibly do with it? Its green and definitely has a 'planty' taste to it so I can't see adding it to coffee and I don't bake LC goodies like almond meal pie crust or flax muffins. I have occasionally done the 1 Minute Muffin but that's about it.

Did I waste 99 cents? (.04 pounds @ 24.99/pound)

[MountainGirl]

Hiya Eloise,

Well, for 99 cents, I think you did fine for an experiment.

Really, the best way to use stevia is to extract the sweet steviocides from the leaves.

This is a really great informational site.

Tips on growing stevia

Unlocking the sweetness in your harvest

Once all your leaves have been harvested you will need to dry them. This can be accomplished on a screen or net. (For a larger application, an alfalfa or grain drier can be used, but about the only way an average gardener might gain access to such a device is to borrow it from a friendly neighborhood farmer). The drying process is not one that requires excessive heat; more important is good air circulation. On a moderately warm fall day, your stevia crop can be quick dried in the full sun in about 12 hours. (Drying times longer than that will lower the stevioside content of the final product.) A home dehydrator can also be used, although sun drying is the preferred method.

Crushing the dried leaves is the final step in releasing stevia's sweetening power. This can be done either by hand or, for greater effect, in a coffee grinder or in a special blender for herbs. You can also make your own liquid stevia extract by adding a cup of warm water to 1/4 cup of fresh, finely-crushed stevia leaves. This mixture should set for 24 hours and then be refrigerated.

[MrsJackSprat]

I was going to suggest posting your question in the new forum: Organic and Natural Eating Organic and Natural Eating - Low Carb Friends

[Melle]

Originally Posted by MountainGirl

Hiya Eloise,

Well, for 99 cents, I think you did fine for an experiment.

Really, the best way to use stevia is to extract the sweet steviocides from the leaves.

This is a really great informational site.

Thanks for that info, MountainGirl! I am about ready to pick all the leaves off of my stevia plant, and wasn't sure what to do with them. Thanks, again.