Stevia

Scientific Name: Stevia rebaudiana

Family Name: Asteraceae

Stevia is a perennial plant. It can be propagated by seeds and stem cuttings. It grows to about 50cm to 1m in height.

DID YOU KNOW? The leaves are now commercially used to create artificial zero-calorie sweeteners and can be consumed by diabetics without having to worry about their blood glucose levels.

Full Sun: 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.

Partial Sun: 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.

Moderate watering: Water on average 2 times each week. Keep the soil moist.  

Parts Used: The leaves are used fresh, dried or even crushed.

Uses: The leaves are about 30 times sweeter than sugar and thus are used as an alternative to sugar. Trying using the leaves to sweeten your teas.

The leaves taste like sugar except that they are thirty times sweeter than normal sugar. 

Stevia cannot withstand hot weather so do not place it under direct sunlight for extended hours. Place it under slightly shaded conditions. Your typical HDB corridor would be perfect. Ensure that the plant is not overwatered because the roots are very sensitive to excessive watering.

Your stevia leaves will taste sweeter if you dry them. Pluck away flowers to encourage the plant to conserve its energy to produce leaves. The leaves are sweeter if it does not flower.

Dried stevia leaves can last up to 12 months if stored in an air-tight container.