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From the plant to the table SWEET TRUTHS ABOUT STEVIA HOW IS THE SWEETENER OBTAINED? Where is stevia grown? Stevia is a plant in the chrysanthemum family native to Paraguay, and its leaf is a unique source of intense, natural sweetness. 1 A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY Farming Stevia starts off as a cutting that is cultivated in greenhouses. In the spring, when the young plants have grown to 7-10 cm, they are transplanted in open fields. Centuries ago The plant stevia rebaudiana was first discovered by indigenous people who used the plant’s leaves to sweeten drinks. By the 1800s 2 Harvesting and Drying Once stevia leaves reach their peak sweetness, they are harvested and dried. Stevia consumption was established throughout South America, including Argentina and Brazil. 1931 Two French chemists isolated the components (steviol glycosides) that give stevia its characteristic sweet taste. 3 Extraction of stevia sweeteners In a process similar to steeping tea, the dried stevia leaves are soaked in water to unlock the best-tasting, sweet substance found in the leaf. This substance is then further isolated and purified. 4 Final product The finished ingredient is a high purity sweetener that can be used in combination with other natural sweeteners like sugar and fruit juice to deliver great-tasting low-, no- and reduced-calorie beverages. Leaf 5 Stevia uses Stevia-based sweeteners are used in products including: Juices, tea and other beverages Desserts Sauces Yogurt Pickled foods Breads And as a tabletop sweetener. Average height 70 cm 1977 Japan began using stevia as a sweetener in foods and beverages. 2008 A high purity stevia extract containing the steviol glycoside rebaudioside A (rebiana) earned Genrally Recognized as Safe status under the laws administered by the U.S. FDA, allowing it to be used in foods and beverages. 2011 The European Food Safety authority approved the use of steviol glycosides as a sweetener in foods and beverages Steviol glycosides were included in the Argentine Food Code. STEVIA-BASED SWEETENER A natural sweetener Considered specialists on plants and their benefits, the indigenous people of Paraguay have used powdered stevia leaves for centuries to sweeten their beverages. A sweet, delicious taste Comes from the best-tasting part of the stevia leaf, which gives it its great taste. A zero-calorie sweetener As it is 200 times sweeter than table sugar, only a little is needed for a great sweet taste, without adding calories to the foods and beverages in which they are used. Steviol glycosides extracted from the stevia plant are safe sweeteners permitted for use by numerous international authorities: the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Mercosur, among others. These data and facts on Stevia were compiled by Coca-Cola de Argentina from government data and third-party researchers.