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Herbal Wisdom:  Stevia as a sweetener  |
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Canadian farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Lori
Ontario
Canada
482 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 15 2007 : 06:48:19 AM
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| Has anyone used stevia for sweetening? How do you like it? It's very expensive, small dropper bottle of liquid is $10 here, and a box of packets is $17. I would like to hear how you like it before spending this kind of money! |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2007 : 07:07:55 AM
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I have never used it but I hear a little goes a long long way.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2007 : 07:50:33 AM
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we use it here. It is expensive, but a little DOES go a long way. I buy the dropper and the packets. It depends on what I am using it for, bu like in my coffee or tea, I use maybe a 1/4 of the packet. I tend to use the dropper for things like sweetening and herbal meds the girls might take.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://womonandsprout.wordpress.com
Homepage:
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
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Cheryl
True Blue Farmgirl
919 Posts
Cheryl
Magalia
CA
USA
919 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2007 : 08:03:12 AM
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What is stevia? I have not heard of it. Thanks, Cheryl
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 |
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Canadian farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Lori
Ontario
Canada
482 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2007 : 08:10:46 AM
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Hi,
Stevia comes from a plant. Here's the information I found on www.naturallysavvy.com
Stevia:
Stevia is a natural sweetener that sweetens with almost no calories, does not encourage cavities, is non-glycemic, and may even strengthen the pancreas. The sweetness of stevia is due to phytochemicals called glycosides. The most abundant of these, stevioside, is over 200 times sweeter than sucrose.
Unlike aspartame or sugar, to date no negative health effects have been reported with extensive use of stevia; some people, however are disappointed by the mild aftertaste.
There is also a website www.stevia.net with more information.
Lori |
Edited by - Canadian farmgirl on Sep 15 2007 08:12:19 AM |
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MustangSuzie
True Blue Farmgirl
634 Posts
Sarah
New London
Missouri
USA
634 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2007 : 08:44:58 AM
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I use it and I love it. It is expensive though so I bought some seeds and am making an attempt to grow the plants so I can dry my own. So far seeds are coming up and doing great!
Blessings....
Sarah
"In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." -From The Great Law Of The Iroquois Confederacy.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!!!!
http://mustangsuzie.wordpress.com
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2007 : 11:04:08 AM
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Sarah you are so lucky....stevia is known to be pretty hard to grow from seed...I have tried fro the past two growing seasons to do it and I have come up short each time. I am going to try through the Winter months, hoping it will make a difference...Yay for greenhousing now!!
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://womonandsprout.wordpress.com
Homepage:
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
Edited by - GaiasRose on Sep 15 2007 12:37:38 PM |
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Cheryl
True Blue Farmgirl
919 Posts
Cheryl
Magalia
CA
USA
919 Posts |
Posted - Sep 16 2007 : 10:06:42 AM
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Thanks so much for the info. I will have to try it.
Cheryl
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 |
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Miss Bee Haven
True Blue Farmgirl
4331 Posts
Janice
Louisville/Irvington
Kentucky
USA
4331 Posts |
Posted - Sep 17 2007 : 05:54:18 AM
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I love it and use it, too. Tasha is right about a little going a long way. I don't even use the entire packet to sweeten my twiggy(my son's term) fiber cereal. And most importantly for me, it doen't have an aftertaste!
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?" - 'Brother Dave' Gardner |
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MustangSuzie
True Blue Farmgirl
634 Posts
Sarah
New London
Missouri
USA
634 Posts |
Posted - Sep 17 2007 : 06:39:21 AM
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Tasha...The packet came with 25 seeds. My mom planted them for me, I swear that woman could get a rock to grow! lol When I get some plants going I'll send ya one if you like. Actually, i may be in Minnesota the first week of November sometime. Not sure yet of plans.
Blessings....
Sarah
"In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." -From The Great Law Of The Iroquois Confederacy.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!!!!
http://mustangsuzie.wordpress.com
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - Sep 17 2007 : 12:32:09 PM
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I love stevia also and it is expensive everywhere, I think. I had read that it was difficult to start from seed and bought a plant from One Green World in OR. I managed to harvest some from it and gave a rooted cutting to my neighbor before it caught a cold and died. I'm joking. I had it near the front door and apparently it didn't like the cold drafts every time the door was opened. I will order another one soon and try to find a warmer place for it. Probably in front of the window by the wood stove.
my blog: http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My Website:
http://www.freewebs.com/lisamariesbasketry/index.htm |
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babs
True Blue Farmgirl
226 Posts
Babette
MN
USA
226 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2007 : 10:38:16 AM
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I buy my plants as remainders at the end of the plant sales. They are tall and spindley, but cheap. I plant them in a large container (I use a large plastic cauldron) that sits on the north corner of the house. This gets a great deal of sun but the temp is much cooler. It's not going to burn to a crisp there. I get large well leafed bushes in no time.... well if I can keep the kids from eating the leaves anyway. I can't grow it inside because my cats destroy it on a daily basis regardless of where I put it, so to have it fresh is a summer treat for us.
Babs
Laundry Soap & girly stuff: www.mugwortmaggies.com
Connect to me on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mugwortmaggie
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2007 : 11:17:36 PM
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Wow! so glad I stumbled onto this,,,,about Stevia...
I use to buy it at our local "Trader Joes" store back in California.
I like it in my coffee & tea. And, yes a wee little bit goes a long way.
I buy use to buy it by the box of 100 packets for $8.00..
But we don't have a Trader Joes here or near Spokane, WA., so on my hubbies
trips to Calif. he brings me some back. What a sweet heart he is.
Butttt, today on one of my excursions around Spokane I came across
a store called "Huckleberries" & low & behold they carry Stevia but at $11.00
a box. Oh well, at least I don't have to send my Hubbie to Calif for it now! lol!
Thanx about the info on planting the Stevia plant as well.
Now I can hardly wait to add another plant to my Spring Garden Wish List!
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
www.katmom4.blogspot.com |
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abbasgurl
True Blue Farmgirl
1262 Posts
Rhonda
USA
1262 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2007 : 11:48:10 PM
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So happy to hear about your firsthand experiences with stevia. I have been looking for something to use in coffee/tea as I hate the idea of artificial sweeteners (not to mention the weird after taste). Can I ask how the plant material is used? I was just reading about stevia today, how timely! Thanks for sharing Farmgirls.
Rhonda
I'm a one girl revolution. |
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JudyBlueEyes
True Blue Farmgirl
657 Posts
Judith
Spokane
Washington
USA
657 Posts |
Posted - Oct 05 2007 : 09:43:47 AM
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If you're using fresh or dried herb, you would just add it to your tea ball - you will have to experiment to find out how much you need for a cup or a pot. If you're using it in coffee or with tea bags, I'd use one of the mesh tea strainers, and just put it in that. Otherwise, the powder is the way to go. I love Stevia!
We come from the earth, we go back to the earth, and in between, we garden! |
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bboopster
True Blue Farmgirl
1140 Posts
Betty Jo
West Bend
Wisconsin
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - Nov 04 2007 : 06:50:20 AM
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Hello Does the Stevia cause the same sugar type highs if you use to much? I would love to use another natural sweetener besides honey which I love but does have a distinct flavor which I really do not care for in my coffee.
3 Blue Star Mother and Proud of it!
Pray for our troops to come home safe and soon.
Enjoying the road to the simple life :>) |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2007 : 7:10:51 PM
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I will use a packet of Stevia in my coffee but I only use 1/2 of a packet in my tea.
I am hoping to find a stevia plant come spring to put in my garden. whish me luck...
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
Sisters on the Fly#472
www.katmom4.blogspot.com |
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Duchess
True Blue Farmgirl
109 Posts
Iowa
USA
109 Posts |
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Herbal Wisdom: Stevia as a sweetener |
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Stevia as a sweetener
