Sweeteners (was Re: Guilt, satiety, calorie restriction...)

[Guest guest]

> I have found that there is a great variation in taste

> between the brands of stevia. If you don't like one try

> another.

I've tried two or three brands, but I believe

that it is the taste of stevia itself, in whatever

form, that is the problem. It's hard to describe,

but it's a bitter-sweet licorice-like taste, that

simply will never blend well with certain flavors.

For the same reason it seems to blend fairly well

with tea and chocolate. I suppose, in part, because

they are already bitter.

> Personally, I prefer the Now brand regular stevia, not

> their glycerite. For some reason the glycerite doesn't

> seem as sweet and I need to use much more.

I've used Now brand more than any other, but have

never heard of glycerite. What is that? I might

like to look into it. In any case, the thing to

search for in any stevia is a high percentage of

rebaudiosides. Most of the sweetening power in

stevia comes from the its content of steviosides,

but the rebaudioside A in stevia is said to have

the best flavor and to lack the distinctive stevia

aftertaste. " Wisdom Herbs " stevia extract, which

says on the label that it " includes 40% Rebaudioside

A " , is the best that I've been able to find, though

I've read that in Japan pure extracts of rebaudioside

are available.