Organic Stevia Flowers and Seeds from our own organic farming Andalucía.

It contains fertile seeds in case you want to have plants from them. Organic Stevia dried leaves from Andalucía produced by Alandafoods.

What is Stevia?
Stevia Rebaudiana is an herb in the Chrysanthemum family which grows wild as a small shrub in parts of Paraguay and Brazil. The glycosides in its leaves, including up to 10% Stevioside, account for its incredible sweetness, making it unique among the nearly 300 species of Stevia plants.
There are indications that Stevia (or Ca-he-he) has been used to sweeten a native beverage called mate since Pre-Columbian times. However, a Natural Scientist names Antonio Bertoni first recorded its usage by native tribes in 1887.

How much Stevia is used around the world?
Exact numbers are unavailable at this time. However, as an indication, Stevia accounts for about 50% of Japanese sweeteners market. Other major consuming countries such as Brazil and the whole of South America; South Korea, China and the whole of the Pacific Rim; as well as Europe, Australia and North America

What is the EU's position on Stevia?
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) n an opinion published in April 2010, established an Acceptable Daily Intake of 4 mg per kg body weight per day. It also highlighted that according to toxicological testing these substances are neither genotoxic, nor carcinogenic. No adverse effects on the human reproductive system or for the developing children were found.

Where is Stevia cultivated?
Mainly in Paraguay, Brazil, Japan and China. There are other growers scattered across the Pacific Rim. Stevia is also being cultivated in Southern Ontario and Mexico. Surprisingly, it has been successfully grown in California, South of England and seems to grow extraordinarily well in the south of Spain.

How has Stevia been used in food applications?
First, as a prepackaged replacement for sugar and artificial sweeteners. Second, it has been used in various food products, including the Japanese sugar-free versions of Wrigley's gums, Beatrice Foods yogurts and even diet Coke. It has also been used in Japanese style pickles, dried seafoods, fish meat products, vegetables and seafoods boiled down with soy sauce, confectioneries and a host of other products. Whether it will reach into food applications such as these in the U.S. market depend largely on the FDA's regulatory position and health industry efforts to re-classify Stevia as a GRAS (generally recognized as safe).

Can Stevia replace sugar in the diet?
Yes. Refined sugar is virtually devoid of nutritional benefits and, at best, represents empty calories in the diet. At worst, it has been implicated in numerous degenerative diseases. Stevia is much sweeter than sugar and has none of sugar's unhealthy drawbacks.

How sweet is Stevia?
The crude Stevia leaves and herbal powder (green) are reported to be 10-15 times sweeter than table sugar. The refined extracts of Stevia called steviosides and rebaudiosides claim to be 200-300 times sweeter than table sugar. Herbal powder is very sweet while the refined extract is incredibly sweet and needs to be diluted to be properly used. Both products have a slight bitter aftertaste, also characteristic of licorice.

Can Stevia replace artificial sweeteners in the diet?
Yes! We do not believe that humans should consume anything artificial in their diets. Stevia offers a safe, all-natural, alternative to these "toxic time-bombs." And industrial usage in Japan proves that this substitution is both practical and economical.

How many calories are in Stevia?
Virtually none. And the refined Stevia extracts are considered to be non-caloric.

Will Stevia raise my blood sugar levels?
Not at all. In fact, according to some research, it may actually lower blood sugar levels.

Can I use Stevia if I am diabetic?
Diabetes is a medical condition which should be monitored and treated by a qualified physician or health care practitioner. However, Stevia can be a part of a healthy diet for anyone with blood sugar problems since it does not raise blood sugar levels. If in doubt, ask your doctor. However, if they do say no, ask them politely for the current research to support their opinion.

Can I combine Stevia with other sweeteners?
Most certainly. However, sweeteners in general should be used in moderation in a balanced healthy diet. And refined and artificial sweeteners should be avoided altogether.

Will Stevia harm my teeth?
Apparently not. Two tests conducted by Purdue University's Dental Science Research Group have concluded that Stevioside is both fluo-ride compatible and "significantly" inhibits the development of plaque, thus Stevia may actually help to prevent cavities.

Can Stevia be used in cooking and baking?
Absolutely! Industrial research in Japan has shown that Stevia and Stevioside extracts are extremely heat stable in a variety of everyday cooking and baking situations.

What is the replacement factor for Stevia herbal powder and extract in terms of common table sugar?
Since Stevia leaves are 10 to 15 times sweeter than sugar, this is a fair, if approximate, replacement factor. Since the crude herb may vary in strength, some experimentation may be necessary. The high stevioside extracts are between 200-300 times sweeter than sugar and should be used sparingly. New products such as Steviana Light+E are easy to use as they indicate the equivalent with sugar (in this case a tablespoon sweetens as much as twelve tablespoons of sugar)