subject: Stevia India Cultivation [print this page] Stevia is a sweet herb that belongs to the asteraceae family. Also known as sweet leaf, sugar leaf, it is a natural sweetener that is used as an alternative to sugar. Now chemical sweeteners like Splenda, Saccharine and Aspartame are being replaced by Stevia. Stevia plant is native to the subtropical regions of North and South America and it is also widely grown in countries like Venezuela, Brazil, Paraguay and Columbia.There are about 240 species of Stevia Genus and Stevia leaves are 30 times more sweeter than sugar. The extract of Stevia Rebaudioside A is about 300-400 times sweeter than sugar.The main advantage of Stevioside, a component of Stevia leaves is that it is stable at 100 degrees C. Now the demand for low carbohydrate sweetener is rising and Stevia is being found to be the most appropriate sweetener. It is found to be the ideal sweetener for diabetic patients and it is also good for weight loss. As a substitute of normal sugar, Stevia does not cause an increase in sugar level after consumption.
Stevia can be used in soft drinks, confectionary and bakery instead of sweeteners with known side effects.Its microbial property prevents tooth decay and it has many other health benefits. Diabetes food is rich in fibre and protein content, and addition of Steva aids in the increase in sweetness as well as rejuvenates the pancreatic glands. Stevia is a viable alternative to sugarcane and its use in such a variety of ways is promoting its widespread cultivation. Stevia contains many nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, zinc, protein, magnesium, riboflavin, Miocene, selenium and chromium. It is used as a household sweetener in many of the home made recipes. Stevia is available in many forms, the fresh leaves being the least sweet and the extracted form the sweetest. Stevia was initially used as a sweetener in countries like Japan and Korea but now Stevia is available in many countries.
There is low risk in Stevia cultivation and as it is an agricultural production, its cultivation is tax free in many regions. Stevia is planted for five years and the returns also come early and are high compared to the other traditional crops. Stevia can be an ideal addition to the organic farming and Stevia is found to repel the insects. The sweetness of Stevia acts as a defense mechanism against aphids and other bugs. The recommended method of Stevia cultivation is to buy the garden ready starter plants that may be available in the local nursery. If these plants are not available, Stevia can be obtained from other growers. Stevia India is working towards the popularity of this natural sweetener in the country.
