The Best Tasting Stevia~A Review of Kal Stevia
Stevia is an ancient herb that is very sweet and has zero calories, so it's come to the forefront in the diet industry since it seems we're always searching for sugar substitutes . Because I have trouble metabolizing sugar, (and many people do and don't know it) I ditched sugar a long time ago.
But that doesn't mean I ditched my sweet tooth at all. No I still love sweet stuff, even though supposedly if you stop eating sugar your cravings will subside. Not in my case! For years I have been searching for a sugar substitute that is healthy for me and has no calories or carbohydrates.
So when I first heard of Stevia I got all excited. It's from a plant and is all natural and tastes sweet with no bitter aftertaste like so many artificial sweeteners have. But my excitement soon turned to disappointment because when I decided to embark on a quest to find the best Stevia, I found that most Stevia is not that sweet tasting unless you use gobs of it, and it's expensive.
But that all changed when I found Kal Stevia. Kal Stevia is the best tasting brand of Stevia hands down. I've tried them all so I can tell you that without a doubt Kal is the best brand of Stevia. Read on for my review of it, and to get your hands on it!
Stevia, How Do You Pronounce It?
I actually get a little irked about this sometimes. If I go into a Health food or Vitamin store and can't find the Stevia by myself, I will ask someone for it. Since Stevia is actually from the leaves of a South American plant, it makes sense that the original cultivators of it get to name it. They pronounce it Steh(with a soft e like eh-vee-ah with the emphasis on the second syllable. So Steh-vee-ah. (because i is pronounced ee in Spanish)Our Anglicized version of these types of Spanish words would render it Steh-vee-ah, same letter pronunciation, but the emphasis switches to the first syllable. (Don't ask me why we do this, I don' t know, it's just a curiosity of translation, I guess.) So it would be Steh-vee-ah.
But somehow someone decided to really change it up and pronounce it Stee-vee-ah with the emphasis on the first syllable..Now they even say it wrong on the TV commercials too.
So even though I'm a Certified Herbalist and know exactly the origin and pronunciation of it, they will shoot back at me :"It's Stee-vee-ah." And I never ask how to pronounce it, they just feel compelled to correct me.
So if that happens to you, feel free to give them an etymology lesson, that's what I sometimes do. Hey, they asked for it when they corrected me without my asking. It's really Steh-vee-ah, not Stee-vee-ah.
*From here on out, all the products can be purchased from Amazon by simple clicking on any photo.
Best Stevia Products
Best Tasting Stevia Sweetener
The incredible Kal Stevia powder makes all food taste sweeter and not bitter. You only need a tiny amount. In fact, if you are used to other sweeteners and having to use way more than the box tells you is necessary to get that sweet taste we crave, you are in for a sweet surprise because Kal Stevia actually tells the truth on its bottle. You don't need very much at all! I use it on everything and a bottle lasts me 2 to 3 months. I even use it in my No-Cookies, which are no bake cookies (and now they are diet cookies!). I just use 1/4th of the sugar called for, and use the equivalent amount of Stevia for the other 3/4ths. I find you do need a little sugar in baked goods to get the right texture.
Kal Pure Stevia Extract Powder -- 3.5 oz
This is the brand and bottle of Stevia that I use. Delicious, and you only need a tiny amount, so it lasts a long time!Kal Stevia Extract Powder, 1.3 oz powder
If you're not sure, you can buy it in the smaller size and give it a try. I buy the larger one because I already know I love it and it's cheaper that way. But this one is great for traveling.Kal Stevia Extract Powder
If you like extra fiber in your diet, this one has added fiber in the form of FOS.Best Stevia Liquid Sweetener
Kal also makes incredible liquid Stevia products. For coffee and hot cocoa lovers, they have now added flavored Stevia to make it easy to get your "Starbuck like" coffee drinks and it's way less expensive that way too. I love the Vanilla one! But now that they have Chocolate Cardamom, that's next on my list!!!These liquid sweeteners are great for cold drinks, but would also work great in recipes. My hint about that is to put the Stevia in last, no matter what the recipe says. And if you are baking a dessert using Stevia, it seems to take a little less than you would think. But if you make a mistake and your recipe is not as sweet as you would like, quickly make a glaze to put over it.
A simple syrup made from Stevia poured over your dessert will make it more elegant and solve the sweetener problem. Just boil a cup of water and a half teaspoon of sugar, turn off the heat and add a teaspoon of real butter, and Stevia to taste. Stir for a simple syrup. Poured on a dessert it's delicious! Or add some Kal Stevia Syrup on top. Even easier! (purchase below)
Pure Stevia Liquid Extracts
I carry one of these around in my purse because it takes up less room, and being liquid, it dissolves faster in iced tea. Click on a bottle to see more flavors.
Kal - Pure Stevia Liquid Extract - 8 oz.Pure Stevia Extract Vanilla Kal 1.8 oz LiquidStevia Extract, Pure (Chocolate Cardamom) Kal 1.8 oz LiquidStevia Extract, Pure Caramel Cream Kal 1.8 fl oz Liquid
Kal~Best Brand of Stevia
Another natural sweetener is Luo Han which is extracted from a fruit tree in China and made into tea or a paste from which the sweetener is manufactured. Some people think that bringing Stevia and Luo Han together makes the best tasting Stevia products. I like Luo Han, and the Kal version of this marriage of sweeteners is also the best one in my opinion.I still prefer pure Stevia, but my sister-in-law uses the combination here and says it's much better for baking. I don't bake that much any more. But her diet cookies are really delicious, so if you bake and want to make diet versions of your favorite baked goods, try the Stevia plus Luo Han. (pronounced low hawn)
Now you can have sweets without guilt any time you want!
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Nice to know there is a better substitute for artificial sweeteners. Stevia sounds like the perfect solution. Glad it works so well for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by.
DeleteI tried Stevia years ago when my sister was visiting and had brought it with her. I found it yucky and worried about what I was ingesting. After reading your article today, I realize that was probably more because of the brand she was using. I'll have to give it a try again. I especially like the idea of the flavored Stevia. Hard to ever pass up chocolate.
ReplyDeleteYou and me both on the chocolate! LOL and yes a lot of stevia brands taste yucky! This one is great!
DeleteWow, what an excellent, helpful, informative review! I never, ever use artificial sweeteners and still use sugar in baking and in sweet tea. I already knew enough about stevia to know that it would be my choice for an alternative to sugar when I decided to take that step. After reading this, I feel much better equipped to choose from all the brands out there. Maybe it's finally time to take the plunge, or at least give it a try.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Susan! Glad to help. Most brands of stevia taste terrible and the rest of them have added artificial sweeteners. This one is great though!
DeletePeople are realising they need to cut back on sugar but it can be so difficult when you have a sweet tooth. Stevia was really useful for a relative battling cancer and really struggling to give up sugar
ReplyDeleteYes sugar is highly addictive! Hard to resist that sweet taste. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI'm so glad that you think this brand is great. I have tried Stevia many time before and haven't found one that I like. I will give this brand a try and hopefully I will feel as positive as you do about it.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you will like it. Tastes just like sugar! Thanks for the visit!
DeleteI'll have to try this. I've been using Xylitol because our dentist recommended it. It's supposed to help prevent cavities, but it can have a laxative effect as well if you use too much.
ReplyDelete