Stevia is thirty to fourty times sweeter than sugar – Alkali
By Sadiq Baba Musa.
Stevia has been described as a plant with sweetening compound capable of substituting sugar when processed.
This was disclosed by the Chief Executive Officer of Sujifa Global Concept Limited, Alkali Alhaji Shehu during an interface with Nigeria Daily Post correspondent in Bida recently.
Alkali said “stevia leaves contain sweetening compounds including stevioside, rebaudioside A, B, C and six other compounds which have insulin balancing properties”
He further described stevia as a safe, natural sweetener with zero calorie and carbohydrate free as well as free from negative side effects associated with sugar such as diabetes and obesity among others .
The CEO stressed that stevia is currently used by thousands of companies such as Coca Cola, Pepsi and others, adding that “stevia is well suited for sweetening creamy desserts, drinks, fruits salad dressings, yoghurt and tea as well”
While describing the procedure involved in drying the leaves after harvest, Alkali Alhaji Shehu said “the freshly harvested plant can be hung upside down and dried in the shade, it can also be dried using simple dry racks inside transparent poly house, glass roofing or by passing dry air above room temperature.
“After adequate drying, the leaves are stripped and packed, stored in cool dry place” the CEO narrated.
On advantages of stevia, he said the non toxic sweetener is a complete natural product that can be used in their natural state emphasising that due to it enormous sweetening power, only small quantity is needed to be used at a time.
The leaves as the pure stevioside extracted according to him, can be cooked and does not have aftertaste or bitterness.
