Stevia

From Wiki

Stevia (/ˈstiːvɪə/, /ˈstiːvjə/ or /ˈstɛvɪə/)^[1][2][3][4] is a genus of about 240 species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to subtropical and tropical regions from western North America to South America. The species Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as sweetleaf, sweet leaf, sugarleaf, or simply stevia, is widely grown for its sweet leaves. As a sweetener and sugar substitute, stevia's taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar, although some of its extracts may have a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste at high concentrations.

With its steviol glycoside extracts having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, stevia has garnered attention with the rise in demand for low-carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternatives. Because stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose, it is attractive as a natural sweetener to people on carbohydrate-controlled diets.

The availability of stevia varies from country to country. In a few countries, it has been available as a sweetener for decades or centuries; for example, stevia has been widely used for decades as a sweetener in Japan. In some countries, health concerns and political controversies have limited its availability; for example, the United States banned stevia in the early 1990s unless labeled as a dietary supplement,^[5][6] but in 2008 it approved rebaudioside A extract as a food additive. Over the years, the number of countries in which stevia is available as a sweetener has been increasing. In 2011, stevia was approved for use in the EU starting in early December, 2011.^[7][8]

Two 2010 review studies found no health concerns with stevia or its sweetening extracts.^[51][52] In addition, a 2009 review study found that stevioside and related compounds have anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor,anti-diarrheal, diuretic, and immunomodulatory actions.^[53]

Most afternoons, (and whenever I drink tea) I have a craving for something sweet.  Since there is a significant lack of healthy sweet things, I have been drawn to the ads for Stevia. I would never touch the processed version, however I have found this Stevia leaf on line and have bought it to work out what I can make.

Does any one have any experience/recipes of what might work?